Originally published January 9 2006
Food company receives approval to market krill oil as a functional food in Europe
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Neptune Technologies has had its krill oil product approved as both a dietary supplement and a functional food by European officials, and the company plans to incorporate the oil in conventional food products.
The NKO trademark was found to conform to the requirements of the Direction Départementale de la Concurrence, de la Consommation et de la Répression des Fraudes, paving the way for the ingredient's debut in Europe.
Concurrent with the geographical extension, the ingredient is also making its way into functional foods for the first time -- and indeed Europe is seen as an ideal market for this.
"Europe is more open-minded than the United States about functional foods," VP R&D and business development Tina Sampalis told NutraIngredients-USA.com at FiE in Paris yesterday.
One area where she expects it to do well in foods in the US, however, is in infant formula and baby food; it is far easier to give a small child food than it is to give them a soft gel.
In the functional foods arena, Neptune's key competitor is Martek Biosciences, which also supplies microalgae-derived DHA for infant formulators and is now starting to make inroads into other foods.
At present it is operating at 45 percent capacity, producing 60,000 kg of NKO per year.
But by the end of 2006 anticipates reaching full capacity, after which point a new production plant will be required.
The new plant will be located on the west coast of the United States, where the majority of Neptune's customers are based.
Moreover, since the fish from which the oil is sourced come from the Antarctic Ocean, a move to that side of the American land mass will cut transportation costs considerably.
Sampalis said it is anticipated that all production of NKO will be moved to the US facility once it is operational, but the company does not plan to dispose of its Quebec base.
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