Health giving natural food additives from the sea
Dietary supplements have long been used by consumers hoping to improve their health. However, many are starting to favour eating health-enriched foods to taking supplementary pills. In recent years, marine-based bioactive ingredients extracted from low value by-products and underutilised raw material, are being introduced into commercial products. Seaweed extracts from certain brown algae species, have unique properties such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-diabetic activities, which make them highly attractive for use in various food systems. By adding a unique tasteless marine based omega-3 product with the ability to regulate and maintain the body’s fatty acid balance to lean fish products the lean fish products will acquire the desired properties of omega-3 rich fatty fish. Adding the omega blend to other foods like dairy and cereals, possibilities will open up for broader categories of convenience food for targeted consumers. The EU-funded ENRICHMAR (Convenience food enriched with marine based raw materials) project, was therefore established to increase the value of convenience food by adding these marine based functional ingredients. The consortium comprised small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) eager to increase their competiveness, grow market share and creating business opportunities in national and European markets. Researchers identified consumer segments interested in enriched products in order to direct further product development to meet the needs and wants of those segments. Seafood dishes, dairy and cereal products enriched with the seaweed extract and the omega blend were developed and effects of the processing and ingredients on sensory characteristics and stability were evaluated. ENRICHMAR also recruited close to 200 volunteers to determine the physiological effects of consuming the enriched food. Researchers wanted to confirm that the additives were active and available for the body to use, and whether they enhanced mental performance in cognitive tests. Project partners have finalised the scale-up of seaweed extract and can now produce high value functional extracts and ingredients from marine seaweeds of high quality. These can now be successfully incorporated into different food products. As a result of the ENRICHMAR project, it is now possible to produce high value functional extracts and ingredients from marine seaweeds and the SME is steps closer to entry in lucrative new markets for the bioactive ingredients in different food systems. Consumers may soon benefit from the three foods that are in the final stages of development by ENRICHMAR. They include a range of seafood ready meals supplemented with omega oil, yoghurts containing omega-3 and olive oil, and rye snacks with seaweed and/or omega-3 powder. Watch the project’s video here.
Keywords
Natural food additives, antioxidants, omega-3 oils, ENRICHMAR, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, seaweed, fish oil
