Out with the Bad Fats and In with the Good Fats

When making food purchase decisions at the grocery store, consumers say that healthfulness is a key driver in their decision-making process. In 2009, 64% of people made changes to improve the healthfulness of their diet. Of those people, 79% did this by changing the types of foods they ate (IFIC, 2009 Food and Health Survey).
 
The Omega-9 Solutions Team understands such consumer demands and supports food manufacturers as they continue to improve the health profile of their products. This team develops product formulations that can eliminate trans fat, greatly reduce saturated fat and add heart-healthy monounsaturated fats to packaged foods without affecting the foods' taste and texture.

Healthier Nutrition Labels

Consumer awareness of good and bad fats continues to increase, and they use that knowledge in seeking healthier options on the grocery shelves. According to a study by the International Food Information Council (IFIC), more Americans (69%) are concerned about the types of fat they consume than are concerned with the amount of fat they eat (67%). In the Gallup Study of Healthy Fats & Oils, 42% of Americans expressed a belief they were consuming too much saturated fat. Similarly, 36% believed they were consuming too much trans fat.

Omega-9 Oils Ingredient Solutions can help food companies give consumers what they're looking for, providing the following nutrition label statements:

• Zero trans fat
• Low (or significant reduction in) saturated fat
• High heart-healthy monounsaturated (omega-9) fat

As consumers look for ways to remove the bad (trans and saturated) fats from their diets, Omega-9 Oils Ingredient Solutions can improve the health profile of processed foods to support food manufacturers in offering healthier product options to their valued customers.

Cleaner Ingredient Panels

Consumers are looking to more than just the nutrition label when making their purchase decisions. According to IFIC, the ingredient list is one of the most commonly used packaging elements as consumers decide whether to purchase a food product. More than 66% of consumers who use this list are specifically looking for the type of fat or oil the product contains. Among consumers, canola oil is perceived as one of the healthiest oils, second only to olive oil, which most likely isn't a viable option for packaged foods. 

Omega-9 Oils Ingredient Solutions can provide "cleaner" ingredient labels. Because our oil and shortening formulations are naturally stable, there may be no need for antioxidants, TBHQ or partial-hydrogenation in order to achieve appropriate shelf life. This stability allows for a simpler ingredient list that food manufacturers and consumers alike can feel good about.

For more information and how the Omega-9 Solutions Team can help better your business, contact 1-800-678-2388.