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EU Passes Omega-3 Nutrition Claims

The European Parliament has voted on and approved nutrition claims for omega-3s that will allow companies to claim their products are either a Source of omega-3 fatty acids or contain High omega-3 fatty acids

February 25, 2010

EU Passes Omega-3 Nutrition Claims

The European Parliament has voted on and approved nutrition claims for omega-3s that will allow companies to claim their products are either a Source of omega-3 fatty acids or contain High omega-3 fatty acids.

The International Fishmeal and Oil Association reports that the European Parliament has voted on and approved nutrition claims for omega-3s that will allow companies to claim their products are either a 'Source of omega-3 fatty acids' or contain 'High omega-3 fatty acids.' To be eligible to make the source claim, a product must contain 40mg EPA+DHA, or 300mg ALA, per 100g and 100kCal. To claim a product is high in omega-3s, it must contain 80mg EPA+DHA, or 600mg ALA, per 100g and 100kCal.

The Dietary Reference Values have not been adopted yet, but the nutrition claims are based on a Labeling Reference Value (LRV) that is expected to be substantially similar. The LRV for EPA+DHA is 250mg per day.

The claims will become effective March 2nd, twenty days after the regulation was published. Download the regulation (PDF).