Cargill Boosts Nutritional Benefits With Its New Omega-3 Oil Blend

By Karla Paris

A new oil blend can provide food manufacturers with a healthy alternative to infuse nutrients into products without raising costs or impacting taste

On Tuesday, June 17 Cargill announced the launch of its new oil blend, IngreVita. IngreVita is a low-cost, easy-to-use, oil blend that can help food manufacturers’ boost the nutritional benefits of food products. The omega-3 oil blend consists of high oleic canola oil, fish oil, and proprietary antioxidants. The product delivers long-chain omega-3s (EPA and DHA), which are essential nutrients that play an important role in heart health and brain development.

By using IngreVita, food manufacturers’ will have the ability to provide consumers an ingredient list that is affordable, nutritious, and does not alter the flavor of the products consumers have grown accustomed to. Cargill has identified various applications for its proprietary oil blend. Applications include:

Bread

Cargill has developed white, white whole wheat, and whole wheat bread with IngreVita EPA/DHA Omega-3 Oil. The benefits of this development include:

• Bread formulated with IngreVita EPA/DHA Omega-3 Oil reached 21 days of shelf stability versus the current average of 5-7 days
• One serving of white whole wheat bread contains 32 mg of EPA/DHA
• IngreVita provides nutritional benefits without an impact on product taste – giving   consumers the consistent quality they look for in a brand
• Boosts the value of products with IngreVita’s desirable omega-3s

Dairy products

Consumer access to milk and other dairy products containing omega-3s has been difficult due to the high cost of the end products. IngreVita provides for a low-cost per serving for and includes the following benefits:

• Formulate with ease: IngreVita replaces a percentage of the oil in traditional formulas
• Minimal impact on operations: IngreVita is stored at ambient temperatures
• Accepted fortification: Consumers have a 96 percent awareness of omega-3s (2013 Cargill primary research on attitudes of consumers for Fats and Oils) and are looking for sources in their diet

Meal replacement beverages

Cargill has developed vanilla and chocolate meal replacement drinks with IngreVita EPA/DHA Omega-3 Oil. Benefits include:

• One serving of an 8-ounce beverage was developed to contain 32 mg of EPA/DHA
• IngreVita provides nutritional benefits without an impact on product taste – giving consumers consistent quality
• Increase appeal to health conscious consumers

Crackers

IngreVita, in cracker applications, meets the shelf stability and sensory neutrality requirements of food manufacturers, while handling/formulating like commodity canola for ease of use in the operation. IngreVita is a drop-in oil ingredient in cracker applications that offers the ability to replace a portion of existing oils. Some of its benefits are:

• IngreVita’s shelf stability caused crackers to reach 12 months of shelf life compared to the average of 8 months
• 56 percent of consumers stated they are more likely to pay more for nutrition, second only to taste (2014 Cargill Opportunity Optimizer research)

Average consumption of EPA and DHA in the United States is well below the American Heart Association’s recommendation of 250-500 mg per day. For the general population, increased consumption of EPA and DHA through functional foods, as part of a balanced diet, could help to support health and wellness.