"I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream for... Fish Oil?"
Arthur D. Little develops reduced fat fish oil ice cream toboost consumer health-will consumers take the bait?
Cambridge, MA (July 30, 2001)-Summer-the very word evokes thoughts of barbecues, lazy days at the beach, picnics at the park and cups of fish oil ice cream? Arthur D. Little Inc., the world's premier consulting firm that set the standard for sensory analysis, has created the first reduced fat ice cream containing omega-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs) from fish oils-a compound that is associated with significant health benefits.
"For years, it has been established that there are significant health benefits associated with omega-3's. The challenge has been to find a way to incorporate them into people's diets without compromising taste," said Marv Rudolph, Ph. D., a Principal in Arthur D. Little's Technology & Innovation business. "The main reason that Americans do not consume adequate levels of the omega-3's is because they don't like the taste of fish products and are not interested in buying fish oil supplements."
Numerous studies have shown that omega-3 fatty acids are linked to health benefits for the heart and cardiovascular system, the brain, eyes and nervous system, as well as joint health. The American Heart Association, in their 2000 Food Guidelines, recommends consuming at least two servings of fish per week, especially ones that are high in omega-3 fatty acids such as albacore tuna and salmon.
One of the challenges that the ADL team faced when first formulating the fish oil product was how to sustain the properties of the omega-3 fatty acids without sacrificing flavor. Omega-3's cannot be easily added to food products because they are extremely sensitive to heat, light and air. When exposed to heat, light or air, they generate an unsavory fish flavor. ADL's solutions were to add the oils to a reduced fat ice cream, using its cold storage properties to reduce oxidation and prevent fish flavor, and to carefully choose a flavor system that would mask any fishy notes generated during processing.
"One of the most important factors that we focus on when developing functional foods, foods with a medical and/or health benefit, such as the fish oil ice cream, is taste. Consumers will not buy a product unless it tastes good - even if it is full of nutritious components," said Rudolph.
To ensure the flavor quality of the fish oil ice cream, ADL used an objective method called Profile Attribute Analysis (PAA) which calls upon an expert panel to describe a set of defined flavor attributes, including balance, fullness, flavoring aromatics, fishy aromatics, sweet, sour, mouthfeel and aftertaste, to provide a complete description of the ice cream. The panel concluded that a vanilla/orange flavor combination worked well to minimize the smell and off flavors associated with the fish oil components.
Arthur D. Little's Technology and Innovation Department is at the forefront of the development of functional foods and has been involved in the following projects:
-- Tropicana Pure Premium-ADL developed this not-from-concentrate, fresh orange juice with extended shelf life and designed the spout-top carton packaging.
-- Slim Fast-ADL not only developed the flavor and nutritional qualities of the well known weight loss shake, but also performed scale-up and stability studies, identified manufacturers, and performed quality assurance. In its first year on the market, Slim Fast increased sales by $500 million.
-- Over the Counter Medications-Currently, ADL is helping pharmaceutical companies improve the taste of over-the-counter drugs (OTC). Flavor is a key factor in helping ensure good patient compliance, which is particularly challenging with children's formulations. The flavor of drugs is also increasingly critical to pharmaceutical companies as physicians and consumers are given more choices in new generic and private label products.
-- Chewing Gum-ADL created a new formulation for sugarless chewing gum, including the chewing gum base, with longer lasting flavor.
Arthur D. Little (www.adl.com) is one of the world's premier management and technology consulting firms, with offices and laboratories in more than 30 countries around the world. Drawing on its unique blend of knowledge and hands-on experience across industries, the firm collaborates with its clients to develop significant breakthroughs in practices, products, and processes that lead to dramatic growth, innovation, and the creation of new value. In the health industries arena, ADL works with leading global pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical technology companies to achieve breakthrough results.
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For more information contact:Twig MowattArthur D. Little617.498.7366[email protected]
Andrea tenBroekThe Rasky/Baerlein Group617.443.9933 ext.355[email protected]
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