Joanna Cosgrove08.16.10
There’s a great deal of evidence attesting to the health benefits of omega 3 fatty acid consumption but omega 3s aren’t the easiest of ingredients to formulate with and if one doesn’t enjoy the taste of fish (or fishy tasting supplements), it can be tough to reap its benefits. Ambo Foods LLC, of Venice, FL , spent the last three years creating an omega 3-rich Omega Cookie that not only delivered 2000 mg of EPA/DHA, but also tasted good enough to appeal to even the pickiest of palates.
Sold in four flavors—cranberry, chocolate chip, tropical and ginger raisin—the cookies also contain five grams of fiber, plus calcium and vitamin D. They are formulated with gluten-free oats and contain less sugar than an apple.
The manufacturing process was a feat in and of itself. In fact, the company currently holds 41 patent-pending claims spanning the cookie’s formulation to its manufacturing process.
Lipids found in fatty fish are easily oxidized when exposed to excessive heat or air, which makes baking and cooking with fish oil a challenge, not to mention addressing issues pertaining shelf-life. “We threw away thousands of cookies during our trial and error period,” recalled Ambo Foods’ Anne-Marie Chalmers, MD.
Though taste was high on the list of importance, the crux of Ambo Foods’ work went into creating a product that could deliver real health benefits. “Initially, we had to discover how to bake a high enough dose of omega 3 fish oil into each cookie, while maintaining the integrity of the oil and making the cookies taste delicious,” explained Bo Martinsen, MD, co-founder and CEO of Ambo Foods.
Ambo Foods also tested the impact Omega Cookie had on triglyceride levels, blood pressure and omega-3 absorption rates. “During our pilot study, participants ate one Omega Cookie per day. At the end of the study, blood tests revealed a 100% increase in omega-3 fatty acid levels – results comparable, or superior to people taking seven to eight fish oil capsules a day, or prescription omega-3,” said Dr. Martinsen.
Eating one Omega Cookie a day not only delivers the equivalent amount of oil found in a full salmon dinner (about seven capsules worth), but also needed vitamin D (200% RDA), fiber and 35% RDA of easily absorbed calcium. “We eliminated all processed ingredients, such as trans fats, high-fructose corn syrup and preservatives,” she said. “Because of all the good nutrition in the cookie, preliminary studies suggest the Omega Cookie has more health benefits than fish oil alone.”
Drs. Martinsen and Chalmers firmly believe that getting enough omega 3 fish oil is vital for good health. “The studies showing that omega 3 can help promote cardiovascular health typically use 2000 mg of EPA/DHA every day. If you get less than that, you will likely never experience any benefits,” he said. “Consumers need to understand that omega 3 is not just one molecule, but a family of many different members. The two fatty acids: eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are responsible for the majority of clinical health benefits cited in over 95% of the research studies on omega 3s. The omega 3 from flaxseed or other vegetable sources does not deliver the same measurable health benefits.”
Dr. Chalmers explained that notion of compliance was a major factor during the formulation phase. “As physicians, Dr. Martinsen and I struggled to help people make healthy lifestyle changes,” she said. “We urged our patients to take fish oil, but if the patient didn’t like the taste, or refused to swallow numerous capsules, our recommendations didn’t make much of a difference. Since many people have a negative association with eating large amounts of fatty fish or taking fish oil supplements, we started thinking of how to make fish oil more appealing.”
For several years the pair sold a fish oil product at the local Farmers’ Market, which enabled them to get direct feedback from customers who used fish oil supplements. “Many people had preconceived ideas about the taste and texture of fish oil and refused to try it,” she said. “Since everyone likes cookies, we found that the cookie concept was a wonderful way to get people to take their omega 3 fish oil.”
The team hopes that its Omega Cookie will also resonate with pill-weary consumers. “More than half of the people over the age of 65 are already taking three or more different medications,” Dr. Chalmers said. “Having to swallow seven or eight additional fish oil capsules (the dose used in many research studies) does not appeal to consumers. However, Omega Cookie contains an adequate dose of omega 3 in an easy-to-eat meal form.”
The first Omega Cookie test products were launched last year and the final product just recently debuted at local outlets in Sarasota, FL. Plans for a national rollout are in the works.
