Omega Fatty Acids Gaining Prominence in Global Market

In a new report, "Omega Fatty Acids: Trends in the Worldwide Food and Beverage Markets, 2nd Edition," market research publisher, Packaged Facts estimates that the omega fatty acid global market grew 36% between 2007 and 2008.

The market for omega-3 fatty acids alone grew 34% from an estimated $3 billion in 2006 to almost $5 billion in 2007. Packaged Facts projects that the retail market for omega-3 enhanced foods will approach $8 billion by 2012. The projection reflects a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 32% between 2003 and 2012.

“The upsurge of products enriched with omega fatty acids began in earnest in 2006 and the market is believed to be many years away from saturation. Marketers didn’t really start touting the omega-3 content of enhanced foods until late 2004, and even once products entered the retail scene it wasn’t until early 2006 that such products appeared in mainstream U.S. supermarkets,” said Tatjana Meerman, publisher of Packaged Facts.