New Soybean Oil Provides Plant-Based Omega-3 Source
Americans don’t get an adequate supply of omega-3 fatty acids in their diet, and what they do get typically comes from marine sources. A new soybean oil from Solae, Soymega, provides an efficient, plant-based source of omega-3s. The company bills Soymega as the world’s first SDA (stearidonic acid) soybean oil.
At a press conference on Sunday, July 18, Al Gallegos, Marketing and Business Development Director for Omega-3 at Solae (Booth 4229), reported that food companies have been evaluating the oil and providing Solae with positive feedback. While food companies continue to evaluate the new offering, Solae is also working to develop new product concepts that incorporate the SDA soybean oil.
Soymega has been shown to work in bakery products, soups, sauces, beverages, snack bars, dressings, and yogurts. In addition, the company has recently developed product concepts using industrial margarines and shortening in a range of baked products. Solae reports that Soymega has a clean flavor that is maintained over expected product shelf life.
Pending completion of the regulatory process, commercialization of Soymega is expected around 2012. The soybean oil is the result of a collaborative project between Solae and Monsanto.