|
A group of 12 international companies joined together to form the new trade association Global Organization for EPA and DHA Omega-3 (GOED Omega-3) on October 5.1
The organization first met at the Natural Products Expo East in Baltimore on October 6 and again at the Supply Side West International Trade Show and Conference in Las Vegas on October 19. Members include various stakeholders in the Omega-3 EPA and DHA industry, at all levels of the value chain: processors, refiners, manufacturers, distributors, marketers and retailers, as well as secondary associates and other interested parties-including healthcare professionals, educators, and researchers.1 All GOED Omega-3 members were previously part of the now-dissolved Council for Responsible Nutrition Omega-3 Working Group, which met to produce industry-wide quality control specifications for omega-containing materials.
The new trade association is committed to advocating EPA/DHA market growth, increased regulatory approval, and the implementation of quality standards to protect the EPA and DHA categories of the Omega-3 market. Consumer awareness and education are also a part of GOED Omega-3’s valued commitments.1
“There is a huge nutrition gap that will not begin to close until regulations are updated to reflect the results of thousands of clinical studies-only then will…the public begin to have access to the daily amount of Omega-3 EPA and DHA their bodies need to reap the health benefits. This is one of the new association’s goals,” said Robert Orr, president and CEO of Ocean Nutrition Canada and member of the GOED Omega-3 Start-Up Committee.1
Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids are a nutritional necessity because they cannot be synthesized by the body, only obtained through food and dietary supplementation. These fatty acids have shown benefits in maintaining optimum cardiac performance, as well as people at-risk or diagnosed with cardiovascular disease.2
There are three types of Omega-3 fatty acids. EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid]) are marine-derived Omega-3 acids, most commonly found in fish oils. Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) is a plant-derived Omega-3 acid.
ALA, after consumption, has to be converted by the body into EPA and DHA, which are more readily used by the body. Omega-3 fatty acids are stored in body fat and are important to cognitive and behavioral processes. These fatty acids also prevent heart disease and arthritis, among other chronic diseases, as well as inflammation. EPA and DHA are important parts of the human diet, especially in balance with Omega-6 fatty acids.3
GOED Omega-3 is expanding its membership base to interested companies with a goal of reaching a membership of 30 by the end of the calendar year. The organization is based in Salt Lake City, UT.1 Additional information on GOED Omega-3 and official logo can be obtained by contacting Lindsay Wright at 801-746-1413 or by e-mail at lindsay@unpa.us.
-Dana Donalson
References
1. International Companies Ban Together To Form New Omega-3 Trade Association [press release]. October 5, 2006.
2. Fish and Omega-3 Fatty Acids. American Heart Association Web site. Available at: http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4632. Accessed on October 27, 2006.
3. Omega-3 Fatty Acids. Alternative/Complementary Medicine page. University of Maryland Medical Center Web site. Available at: http://www.umm.edu/altmed/ConsSupplements/Omega3FattyAcidscs.html. Accessed on October 30, 2006.
|