Cognis Reaffirms Commitment to Omevital™ Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Effort to Close the Nutritional Gap for EPA & DHA

In the United States, only about 15 percent of adults meet their daily omega-3 requirement and Cognis Nutrition & Health is working with major food manufacturers on new product concepts to help close this nutritional gap.

“Products made with Omevital™ (ō-may-vee-tall) omega-3 fatty acids make a vital contribution toward meeting the daily needs of EPA and DHA,” said Sharrann Simmons, Senior Marketing Manager, Cognis Nutrition & Health. “Over the last few years we have refined our product line so Omevital™ ingredients, including kosher oils and powders, can be easily incorporated in a range of foods without affecting their sensory qualities. The bottom line is that taste trumps health benefits when it comes to food and our technical advancements with Omevital™ mean that there’s no need to forfeit one for the other.”

Since Cognis acquired Napro Pharma in 2006, the two companies have combined their expertise to produce safe, high quality products with superior taste. In fact, The International Taste & Quality Institute, iTQi, Brussels, presented the 2008 “Superior Taste Awards” for three Omevital™ omega-3 products. This is the second time the iTQi has recognized Napro Pharma for its superior tasting flavored omega-3.

Ms. Simmons pointed out that not all omega-3’s are created equal. “While more consumers are getting hooked each day on the benefits of omega-3’s, the challenge of creating tasty, appealing and safe products is putting huge pressures on formulators. We’re here to help simplify that process.”

Legacy in Lipids
Cognis’ long history in lipid technology, particularly its deodorization capabilities, accounts for the pure, clean flavor and aroma of the Omevital™ products. Together with its decades of antioxidant experience, Cognis offers a unique combination of technical expertise and product offerings unprecedented in the industry. Covi-Ox® natural mixed tocopherols are added to Omevital™ ingredients to prevent oxidation and rancidity. Additional levels of Covi-Ox® also can be added to food systems to enhance shelf-life stability. These natural antioxidants have been proven equally effective as synthetic antioxidants such as TBHQ, BHA, and BHT. Covi-Ox® provides companies the opportunity to promote a food’s health benefits along with labeling for natural ingredients.

The Omevital™ product line includes encapsulated powders for bakery goods and other non-refrigerated products. Omevital™1812 TG Gold is premium oil developed for dairy products, spreads and other fat-based applications.

Dr. Dyerberg’s Pioneering Expertise
To help customers understand the compelling science behind the products, Cognis is honored to have Professor Jorn Dyerberg, PhD, MD, as its medical and scientific adviser for omega-3 fish oils. A pioneer in the discovery of omega-3s in foods and their powerful health benefits, Dr. Dyerberg’s discoveries began in the 1970s, while studying the Greenland Inuit or Eskimo population. The Danish professor hypothesized that the rarity of coronary heart disease among the Inuit could be due to the omega-3 fatty acids found in their staple diet, based on cold-water oily fish. He went on to demonstrate the unique physiological effects of these fatty acids. His work opened a whole new field of medical research and, since then, thousands of studies have been published and many are currently in progress.

Dr. Dyerberg believes that the fatty acids EPA and DHA provide significantly more health benefits than plant-based omega-3 containing only ALA. The fatty acid ALA must be converted to EPA and DHA before it can be used by the human body. Due to ALA’s inefficient conversion rate (approximately 2%), consumption levels must be unrealistically high to achieve the desired health benefits. Cognis’ Omevital™ product line delivers all the nutritional value of marine-sourced omega-3 combined with an award-winning sensory profile.

About Omevital™ Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Cognis’ Omevital™ Omega-3s contain the long-chain fatty acids, EPA and DHA, known to have a variety of health benefits, especially for the heart and brain. The ingredients are kosher, non-GMO and self-affirmed GRAS. Derived from high purity, salt water fish, Cognis exclusively uses sustainable sources to ensure adequate fish stocks and maintain environmental balance. Omevital™ Omega-3s’ superior sensory profile allow the ingredients to be easily formulated in a range of food and beverage applications without altering the taste or smell. In North America, Marine Nutriceutical Corporation serves as Cognis’ exclusive distributor for the dietary supplement industry.

For more information about Omevital™ omega-3 fatty acids or to place an order, visit www.cognis.com, call 800.673.3702, e-mail [email protected], or fax 513.482.3576.

About Cognis:

Cognis (www.cognis.com) is a worldwide supplier of innovative specialty chemicals and nutritional ingredients, with a particular focus on the areas of wellness and sustainability. The company employs about 5,900 people, and it operates production sites and service centers in 30 countries. Cognis has dedicated its activities to a high level of sustainability and delivers natural source raw materials and ingredients for food, nutrition and healthcare markets, and the cosmetics, detergents and cleaners industries. Another main focus is on products for a number of other industries, such as coatings and inks, lubricants, as well as agriculture and mining.

Cognis is owned by private equity funds advised by Permira, GS Capital Partners, and SV Life Sciences. In 2008, Cognis recorded sales of about 3 billion euros and an Adjusted EBITDA (operating result) of 351 million euros.