At Frontline Food Consultants and Engineers, we provide a full range of consulting services the production and commercialization of Omega-3-enriched foods. When it comes to sourcing high-quality omega-3-rich raw materials like fish oil or young flax/ chia seeds or even formulating new product lines that contain improved nutritional values with the right taste and profile. Omega-3 Product Formulation enables you to deliver foods in which Omega-3 is integrated in a way that does not impact the taste or texture of the final product whether it be dairy products, baked products, snacks, or even drinks.

We offer Ingredient Sourcing and new product development solutions that help maintain omega-3’s integrity on your product so as not to become rancid during the process. We collaborate our R&D team with you to create new omega-3-enhanced products that meet the current demand for flexible diets and nutritional value-added foods. From our Regulatory Compliance and Nutritional Labeling Services, your products conform to safety standards and claim the correct omega-3 on the pack. Our Packaging Solutions ensure that the omega-3s, our products contain, remain as fresh and beneficial for consumption as the day they were packaged. We also provide third party manufacturing solutions. 

What are Omega-3 Enriched Foods?

Omega-3 enhanced food products are food products that are supplemented with omega 3 fatty acids, poly fatty acids that are important in the human body for various functions including the wellbeing of the heart, the brain, and joints. These are Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids that are usually sourced from fish or plant sources such as flax seeds, chia seeds, and algae where sources the food industry incorporates into its products such as dairy products, baked products, processed snacks and beverages. The first steps entail identification of the right source of omega-3 either animal or plant depending on the type of product and intended health benefits. DHA and EPA are the omega-3 in fish oils suitable for foods with cardiovascular health benefits while the alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), is commonly used in plant-based products.

After that, the chosen omega-3s are very intentionally integrated into the list of the ingredients of the product. This is important because; omega-3 fatty acids may get oxidized easily due to heat and light which in turn may affect its nutritional value. Because omega-3 integrates easily into food lipids it is crucial to moderate the conditions of food processing including temperature and packaging in oxygen barrier material. The final step is to take measures to ensure that the omega-3-enriched food remains palatable because it is well known that some of the sources of omega-3 such as fish oil are characterized by a rather pungent taste. Accompanying the omega-3s there may be encapsulation techniques or so-called flavoring agents that prevent the omega-3s from affecting the taste of the further food.

Stages of ascertaining the enrichment process of omega-3:

  1. Ingredient Selection: Select a premium source of omega-3 that corresponds to the nutrient and sensory characteristics of Omega’s products.
  2. Formulation: Create products that use sources of omega-3 in their formulation so they not to affect the taste, texture, and appearance of the food.
  3. Processing: Use practices that preserve or promote the omega-3 content of the foods, and techniques.
  4. Testing: Therefore, you should perform nutritional and sensory assessments on the product to determine its quality.
  5. Packaging: Work with packaging media and material that retain the freshness and essential nutritive values of foods containing omega-3.
  6. Distribution: Always ensure that your products are stored and transported correctly in order not to go bad.

Equipment and Tools

  • Mixers and Blenders: These are used for compounding of omega-three active substances with other elements.
  • Encapsulation Equipment: This is to stabilize and guard omega-3 oils throughout the manufacturing process Since omega-3 is an unsaturated fatty acid,<|human|>This is to stabilize and protect omega-3 oils during the processing process Since omega-3 is an unsaturated fatty acid
  • Baking Equipment: Omega-3-enriched baked goods production ovens and proofing cabinets.
  • Extruders: In order to make omega-3 enhanced snacks and cereals.
  • Packaging Machines: These are used for encapsulation and stabilization of omega-3 retailed products.

Different Omega 3 enriched products

Omega-3 Enriched Bread

  • Ingredients: Whole wheat flour, flaxseed oil, chia seeds, water, baker’s yeast, salt.
  • Process: Opinions on marinating, dough making, rising, baking, cooling and wrapping.
  • Benefits: Is beneficial for heart health, enhances brain activity and is also a source of omega-3 fatty acids.

Omega-3 Enriched Yogurt

  • Ingredients: Milk, fish oil or algae oil, living cells, natural flavors.
  • Process: The others are mixing, fermentation, cooling and packaging.
  • Benefits: It’s beneficial for intestinal health, for cardiovascular health, and it’s also yummy and healthy.

Omega-3 Enriched Snack Bars

  • Ingredients: Oats, nuts, seeds, dried fruits, fish food supplements, omega 3 fish oil, chia seeds.
  • Process: Blending and molding, cooking or refrigerating, storing.
  • Benefits: It is transportable, energizing, and improves health.

Market Research and Analysis

It is important to know about consumer tastes for designing desirable omega-3 foods on the market. Factors that can encourage sustainable omega-3 consumption include the following:

  • This entails consideration of data obtained from an analysis of the market in addition to survey information and focus group discussions in order to assess opportunities and weaknesses.
  • New products and reformulations are major strands of food product development: 

Ingredient Selection and Formulation

Food ingredients with high levels of omega-3 and the development of formulations to achieve the right perception as well as nutritional values are important aspects of the development process.

Prototyping and Testing

  • Controlled experimental runs are made to perfect the formulation of products and the methods of their preparation.
  • Quality assurance and compliance are important pillars that must embrace the approach in order to meet the desired duties.
  • Products containing omega-3 fatty acids can only be safe, healthy and of acceptable quality to meet set industry requirements. Appropriate quality control mechanisms should be followed in order to keep track of the production process.

Packaging

  • The protection of omega-3 in enriched foods also requires proper packaging so that its benefits are not degraded. Correct encasing shields the product from factors like humidity and exposure to air and light for the conservation of omega three fatty acids. Key packaging materials include:
  • Flexible Packaging: Light and economical plastic films and foil laminates for improved barrier properties at attractive prices.
  • Rigid Packaging: Tetra packs, Glass and plastic bottles or metal cans as it provides long-lasting and shelf stable products.
  • Paper-Based Packaging: Thin and folded cardboard boxes, and paper bags, these after being coated or laminated to form barriers.