Dr Harald Rønneberg, general manager of Denomega Pure Health, told NutraIngredients.com that the launch is driven by demand.
“Around the world more and more emphasis is put on salmon,” he said. “It is looked upon as a quality fish to eat, so people are convinced about the nutritional benefits.”
Other salmon oils do exist on the market, but Denomega says it has quality and authenticity on its side for its new offering, called Omega-Natural Salmon. Produced from sustainable salmon farmed under contract in Norway – salmon that would otherwise be earmarked for the top notch sashimi market, where freshness is a prerequisite – the processing is mild so as to avoid oxidation.
“It is not fiddled with at all,” he said, beyond ensuring there are no PCBs or heavy metals.
The company’s 10-year old patented cold-press process was originally developed to make oils with the least taste and odour possible for use in functional foods. The result is said to be very light and non-oily, and the oil goes cloudy when chilled just like good olive oil.
“There is no taste and no odour, so you don’t have to mask it,” he said.
In terms of the fatty acid profile salmon oil comes in at 20 per cent EPA:DHA while standard fish oil from Peruvian anchovy oil is 30 per cent EPA:DHA. It comes in at a higher price than Peruvian anchovy oil, but the difference in quality, processing standards and transportation time means the two are not really comparable.
Price-wise the new salmon oil is comparable to a high quality cod liver oil, Rønneberg said.
Markets
Borregaard-owned Denomega has secured raw material for the salmon oil through contracts, so it is delivered just after it is caught, and it has the capacity to produce “hundreds of tonnes per year”.
The biggest markets for sales of the oil are expected to be France, Belgium, Germany and Japan, as these are places where consumers and manufacturers put the highest emphasis on quality standards and premium products.
In the US, too, the oil could do well. Rønneberg said he first started talking to the industry at Expo West trade show in Anaheim last month, and it was “extremely well-received”.