NOVOMEGA™, a product of Omega Protein's (Houston) OmegaPure® and National Starch Food Innovation (NSFI, Bridgewater, N.J.), is an encapsulated long-chain omega-3 fatty acid in powder form. NOVOMEGA utilizes OmegaPure, a natural product, and the only marine source of essential long-chain omega-3 fatty acids directly affirmed by the FDA as a GRAS food ingredient for direct human consumption.
“This is a new market for long-chain omega-3s,” says Lucia Ponginebbi, a technical manager at National Starch Food Innovation. “Although flax contains another form of omega-3 (ALA), which has been incorporated into breads for years, flax-based omega-3 is less potent when it comes to impacting health.” Flax does not qualify for a Qualified Health Claim from the FDA, as does omega-3. Marine-derived omega-3 also carries endorsements from the American Heart Association (Dallas) and the Department of Health and Human Services (Washington).