Omega-3 Working Group Releases Draft Monograph

WASHINGTON--The Council for Responsible Nutrition's (CRN) Omega-3 Working Group approved a draft voluntary monograph for the omega-3s EPA and DHA, and will take comments on the piece through May 31. "The purpose of the voluntary monograph is to strengthen quality standards for omega-3 EPA and DHA products, which have been shown to have significant health benefits including reducing the risk of heart disease," said Robert Orr, president of Ocean Nutrition Canada and chairman of the working group.

The proposed voluntary product monograph is applicable to EPA and DHA fatty acids obtained from fish, plant or microbial sources; it is not applicable to cod liver oil. It includes proposed quality standards, nomenclature and appropriate test methods. It also includes limits on environmental contaminants and heavy metals. The monograph is available atwww.crnusa.org/shellnr032002.html. Comments may be submitted to Annette Dickinson, Ph.D.,CRN, 1875 Eye St. N.W., Ste. 400, Washington, D.C. 20006, [email protected].

The Omega-3 Working Group operations are directed by CRN and its six-member steering committee, with 26 corporate members. The following corporate members of the Working Group will be exhibiting at SupplySide East: Arista Industries, Booth #1642,www.aristaindustries.com; Fuji Chemical Industries Inc., Booth #1312,www.fujichemusa.com; Loders-Croklaan, Booth #1321,www.lipidnutrition.com; MarineNutriceutical, Booth #1706, www.marine-ingredients.com; Pharmline Inc., Booth #1424-1426; Pronova BiocareA.S., Booth #1424-1426, www.pronovabiocare.com; Roche Vitamins, Booth #1506,www.roche.com/vitamins; and Soft Gel Technologies, Booth #1524,www.soft-gel.com.