Ambo Foods, which has developed the Omega Cookie range, says it hopes to continue to expand its portfolio of goods to include both gluten free versions of the product as well as other formulations linked with providing potential health benefits soon after.
Despite growing interest in seemingly healthier snack formulation across the globe, the British Nutrition Foundation, a charity, suggests that cookies and other fortified baked goods should never been seen as alternative to dietary staples like vegetables and fish.
However, in launching the biscuit range, Ambo Foods hopes to join a number of other snack and baker groups worldwide in playing up the potential health benefits of fortifying products with Omega-3.
Fortification
Omega-3, a predominantly marine-sourced fatty acid, is being increasingly linked to a wide range of health benefits, including reduced risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and certain cancers, improved joint health, and improved behaviour and moods.
Although fish oil is considered to be the best source of the heart-healthy omega-3, it has been notoriously difficult to incorporate into formulations since it is highly susceptible to oxidation.
Despite these apparent difficulties, Bo Martinsen, chief executive officer for Ambo claims that Omega Cookie products can provide a substantial source of omega-3 in a single serving.
The company itself was not available at the time of publication to clarify the exact content of the oil present in the cookies, though suggested in a press release that it was higher in content than a number of fortified products on the markets like certain drinks and margarines.
Balance Focus
Speaking to BakeryandSnacks.com, a spokesperson for the British Nutrition Foundation said that a focus amongst snack makers in reformulating their goods to offer improved health benefits was encouraging, their message should not detract from balanced diets.
“We wouldn’t encourage consumers to search for quick fix solutions in ensuring they are getting sufficient nutrients from their diets,” stated the spokesperson.
The British Nutrition Foundation said that ongoing reforms to European and US regulations on permissible health claims for food and drinks would hopefully serve to safeguard some nutrition benefits for manufacturers.
Market potential
The current market for fortified foods nonetheless appears to remain buoyant according to recent findings.
A report released by Euromonitor in May this year revealed that the trend for healthy and functional foods will continue to dominate the bakery market, resulting in yet still more space for innovation in this area.
The report, 'Bakery Products: top trends for 2008 and beyond', found that consumers of all ages will continue to lean towards bakery products they view as healthy or nutritious, driven by governmental pressure to eat well along with a growing 'obsession' with body image.