ENRICHMAR

Convenience Food Enriched with Marine based Raw Materials

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'Recent process improvements have created new possibilities for the use of marine based ingredients in functional foods. Consumers tend to favour functional foods over supplementary pills as means to prevent diseases. The market for these types of products is one of the fastest growing markets in the world. By adding marine-based bioactive ingredients from low value by-products and underutilised raw material to foods they obtain added value, both economical, for health and more sustainable use of resources. Few natural food antioxidants are commercially available on the market. Due to strong market demand and very positive preliminary tests it is believed that seaweed food antioxidant extracts can be highly competitive on the market and find various uses in food. A unique new tasteless omega-3 powder ingredient is new on the market with the ability to both regulate and maintain the body’s omega-6/omega-3 fatty acid balance while simultaneously safeguarding the daily need for omega-3 from fish and protective biological antioxidants from olives (flavonoids). The aim is to increase the value of convenience food by enriching seafood, cereal and dairy products with bioactive compounds; powder of fish oil and seaweed extracts with confirmed bioavailability. The functional properties of the enriched products will be studied via dietary intervention. The consortium consists of SME’s interested in strengthening their competiveness, increasing market share and creating business opportunities in national and European markets using the expert knowledge and capacity provided by the RTDs. New markets for bioactive marine based products, seaweed and fish oil as ingredients in functional (sea) foods, cereal and dairy will open and increase the competitiveness of the SME´. Verification of physiological health effect of consumption of enriched food is of high importance to the ingredients and the food producers as well as European consumers.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

Researchers are developing natural food additives rich in antioxidants and omega-3 oils from low-cost marine by-products to improve the health value of convenience foods.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

Dietary supplements have long been used by consumers hoping to improve their health. However, many are starting to favour eating health-enriched foods over taking supplementary pills.

Natural food additives from marine resources like seaweed or fish by-products have great potential in this regard, since they are rich in antioxidants and omega-3 oils. The EU-funded http://www.enrichmar.eu/ (ENRICHMAR) (Convenience food enriched with marine based raw materials) project aims to improve consumers' health by including these marine extracts in convenience foods.

ENRICHMAR is fortifying seafood, cereal and dairy products with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-diabetic seaweed extracts, and fish oil powder that regulates the body's omega-6-omega-3 balance.

To assess their potential as food additives, researchers looked at the products' taste, smell and stability. Since some of the natural additives caused an unpleasant flavour that may deter consumers, the project is currently working on masking unpalatable flavours.

ENRICHMAR has also recruited close to 200 volunteers to determine the physiological effects of consuming the enriched food. Researchers want to confirm that the additives are active and available for the body to use, and whether they enhance mental performance in cognitive tests.

Consumers may soon benefit from the three foods that are in the final stages of development. These are 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.