New Oil Blend Delivers Heart Health Benefits
by Donald E. Pszczola
A new canola/flaxseed that delivers potential heart health benefits was unveiled by Cargill, Booth 4529, at a press conference held on Monday, July 19. The ingredient, Clear Valley Omega-3 Oil, reportedly contains up to 30% ALA (alpha linolenic acid) omega-3s and provides a minimum of 160 mg of ALA in most applications. It is showcased in a granola bar prototype at the company’s booth.
According to Willie Loh, Vice President in Cargill’s oils and shortenings business, food industry leaders want to capture the growing market opportunity for new products backed by heart-healthy package claims, but there are formulation challenges in incorporating ingredients such as omega-3s and fish oil into many products. Specifically, achieving the volume of polyunsaturated oil required to make an omega-3 claim is difficult in products that already have a low fat content such as crackers and cereals. In addition, fish oil, a primary source of omega-3s, can impart a “fishy” taste and does not possess a long shelf life.
“Clear Valley Omega-3 Oil solves these problems because it is made with a special blend of canola and flaxseed, so unlike fish oils, it has a neutral taste that won’t interfere with established flavor profiles,” said Loh. “In addition, it is shelf stable for more than nine months, making it ideal for cookies, cereal bars, crackers, snacks, and spreads.”
The ingredient will enable food manufacturers to make a “good source of ALA omega 3” or “excellent source of ALA omega-3” nutrient content claim on the front of the package. Cargill recently completed a Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) self-determination for the patent-pending ingredient and it is now available for product trial testing.
Cargill claims that with the new oil, customers do not have to modify their recipes or formulas. They can simply replace their existing oil with the new canola/flaxseed oil blend.
