News

LAS VEGAS – June 25, 2012 – Technology from Dow AgroSciences addresses one of the company’s seven 2015 Sustainability Goals

The Dow Chemical Company (NYSE: DOW) today announced Omega-9 Oils as its first Breakthrough to World Challenges, addressing one of the Company’s 2015 Sustainability Goals in the area of health. Since 2005, the use of Omega-9 Oils has eliminated more than one billion pounds of trans and saturated fat from the North American diet. Trans and saturated fat in a diet have shown to increase the risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes. As part of its 2015 Goals, Dow committed to achieving at least three breakthroughs that will significantly help solve world challenges in the areas of energy and climate change, water, food, housing and health.

“Although the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has required food labeling of trans fats since 2006, many processed foods still contain unhealthy levels of trans fats and high levels of saturated fat,” said Neil Hawkins, vice president of sustainability and EH&S for Dow. “Omega-9 Oils, developed by Dow subsidiary Dow AgroSciences, are a critical step in addressing world health problems related to nutrition and lifestyle – and another example of Dow innovation pointed squarely at the most pressing issues of our time.”

Omega-9 Oils have zero trans fat and the lowest amount of saturated fat among commonly used cooking oils, including corn, cottonseed, palm, peanut and soybean. Derived from Dow AgroSciences’ NEXERA™ canola and sunflower seeds, Omega-9 Oils are used by the food processing and food service industries.

Omega-9 Oils are used widely throughout North America and increasingly in Asia, Europe and Latin America. More than 100 leading restaurant chains and packaged food companies currently use Omega-9 Oils.

In order to be designated as a Breakthrough to World Challenges, Omega-9 Oils passed a rigorous, transparent evaluation by Dow scientists and external stakeholders. Omega-9 Oils, like other candidates in Dow’s R&D pipeline, were evaluated for positive impact on millions of human lives, as well as minimal environmental impact from development through manufacturing, distribution, use and end-life.

Canola production uses equal or less energy and inputs than other oil crops. Canola can promote productive soils and sustainable production practices when grown in a proper crop rotation with sound integrated pest management strategies.

Dow’s 2015 Sustainability Goals focus the Company’s efforts on strengthening relationships within communities, continuing to improve product stewardship, innovating to solve world challenges and reducing its global footprint.

For more information on Dow’s 2015 Sustainability Goals, and to read the whitepaper on Omega-9 Oils as a Breakthrough to World Challenges, please visit www.dow.com/sustainability.

About Dow

Dow (NYSE: DOW) combines the power of science and technology to passionately innovate what is essential to human progress. The Company connects chemistry and innovation with the principles of sustainability to help address many of the world's most challenging problems such as the need for clean water, renewable energy generation and conservation, and increasing agricultural productivity. Dow's diversified industry-leading portfolio of specialty chemical, advanced materials, agrosciences and plastics businesses delivers a broad range of technology-based products and solutions to customers in approximately 160 countries and in high growth sectors such as electronics, water, energy, coatings and agriculture. In 2011, Dow had annual sales of $60 billion and employed approximately 52,000 people worldwide. The Company's more than 5,000 products are manufactured at 197 sites in 36 countries across the globe. References to "Dow" or the "Company" mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted. More information about Dow can be found at www.dow.com.

INDIANAPOLIS – June 12, 2011 – Omega-9 Sunflower Oil is a game-changer for food manufacturers

Dow AgroSciences achieved an industry first with the unveiling of saturated fat free Omega-9 Sunflower Oil at the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) Annual Meeting and Food Expo in New Orleans. For food manufacturers seeking solutions to meet increasing customer demand for healthier products, Omega-9 Sunflower Oil is one of the healthiest oils available. The oil also has zero trans fats and is uniquely high in heart-healthy monounsaturated fats.

The 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans call for an overall reduction in saturated fat intake, replaced by monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, to decrease risk for cardiovascular disease. Consumers now realize the impact that “bad,” trans and saturated, fats have on their diet and long-term health and are looking for healthier oils now more than ever. According to the 2010 Gallup Study of Healthy Fats & Oils, adults are making about the same amount of effort to include healthy fats and oils in their diet (58 percent) as they are to exclude unhealthy ones (61 percent).

With Omega-9 Sunflower Oil, food companies may significantly reduce or eliminate saturated fat from new front-of-pack labels, which will begin to appear on retail shelves within the next two years. “Omega-9 Sunflower Oil provides a very powerful ingredient advantage for food manufacturers, potentially allowing them to eliminate saturated fat from food products by making the switch,” said David Dzisiak, Commercial Leader Grains & Oils for Dow AgroSciences. In fact, recent concept research found consumers preferred a saturated fat free label claim on a retail bottle of oil five to one over the same product labeled without the claim. “This can truly impact purchasing behavior at the grocery store. It’s pretty amazing to offer an oil that’s virtually all ‘good’ fat,” Dzisiak explained.

Omega-9 Sunflower Oil is all natural and can support an all natural package claim, as the oil comes from NEXERA™ seeds which were developed by Dow AgroSciences through traditional plant-breeding. And because the oil has a very high level of stability, many formulations will not require antioxidants, TBHQ or partial hydrogenation to achieve the desired shelf life allowing for a cleaner ingredient label.

About Dow AgroSciences
Dow AgroSciences, based in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA, is a top-tier agricultural company providing innovative agrochemical and biotechnology solutions globally. The company, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company, has sales of $4.9 billion. Learn more at www.dowagro.com. Follow Dow AgroSciences on Facebook and YouTube or subscribe to our News Release RSS Feed.

INDIANAPOLIS – May 20, 2011 – Industry use of Omega-9 Oils results in significant milestone

Thanks to industry-wide collaboration, Omega-9 Oils from Dow AgroSciences have helped remove over 1 billion pounds of saturated and trans fats from the North American diet with beneficial economic and nutritional impact on the food industry. After medical research cited trans fats as increasing risk factors for heart and other chronic diseases, foodservice operators and food manufacturers across North America worked to remove trans fats from the food supply. During this same time, Dow AgroSciences developed a new line of NEXERA™ canola and sunflower seeds which are the source of Omega-9 Oils, a naturally stable, trans fat-free solution with the lowest level of saturated fat, and high levels of heart-healthy monounsaturated fat.

Omega-9 Oils are the next generation of healthier oils for both foodservice and food processing, and some of the biggest names in the food industry have already made the switch. Since 2006, use of Omega-9 Oils has resulted in the removal of 1 billion pounds of bad fats, saving nearly $200 million for U.S. restaurants along the way. “Dow AgroSciences applauds the food industry’s commitment to provide healthier options for consumers,” said David Dzisiak, Commercial Leader Oils for Dow AgroSciences. “It took a team effort to reach this milestone.”

To celebrate this team effort, Dow AgroSciences recognized the operators, suppliers, partners and health influencers who helped achieve this goal at a formal reception during the National Restaurant Association (NRA) Show on May 20, 2011. “The celebration honored those who contributed to this significant milestone,” said Dzisiak. “We launched Omega-9 Oils at the NRA Show in 2006 right when the battle to remove trans fats was heating up. With the removal of 1 billion pounds of saturated and trans fats only five years later, it feels like things have come full circle.” Prior to the reception, members of the media were invited to attend an exclusive “Bye, Bye Billion Pounds” industry panel at Wrigley Field, which uses the healthier oil.

One billion pounds of “bad fats” translates to over 700 million pounds of trans fats and nearly 300 million pounds of saturated fat. With Americans averaging 11% of calories from saturated fat daily, switching to Omega-9 Oils provides a meaningful way to help reduce cardiovascular disease risk. And the economic impacts are clear – nearly 100 million pounds less oil is used by the restaurant industry each year thanks to Omega-9 Oils. “Omega-9 Oils last nearly 75 percent longer than all the other oils we’d been using,’” remarked Ina Pinkney, event panelist, local restaurant operator and “Breakfast Queen” of Chicago. “I couldn’t be more pleased with our oil solution.”

About Dow AgroSciences
Dow AgroSciences, based in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA, is a top-tier agricultural company providing innovative agrochemical and biotechnology solutions globally. The company, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company, has sales of $4.9 billion. Learn more at www.dowagro.com. Follow Dow AgroSciences on Facebook and YouTube or subscribe to our News Release RSS Feed.

INDIANAPOLIS – January 31, 2011 – Oils provide opportunity for foodservice operators and food manufacturers alike

With two-thirds of Americans either obese or overweight, the food industry has the opportunity to play a key role in public health by selecting healthier ingredients. The recently released 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans affirm that the type of fat consumed is more important than the amount of fat. Not only do the new recommendations call for a reduction in saturated fat intake, they encourage the consumption of “good fats” by replacing saturated fat with heart-healthy monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids.

The health profiles of Omega-9 Canola Oil and Omega-9 Sunflower Oil, developed by Dow AgroSciences, allow foodservice operators and food manufacturers to help their consumers meet the new “good fats” recommendation. Omega-9 Oils have the lowest saturated fat among zero trans fat oils and are uniquely high (>70 percent) in monounsaturated (omega-9) fat. “We have been working with the foodservice and food processing industry for years to remove more than 750,000 pounds of saturated and trans fats from the food supply,” said David Dzisiak, Commercial Leader Oils Dow AgroSciences. “With the new Dietary Guidelines, the importance of including heart-healthy omega-9 fats in product and menu formulations has increased.” According to the guidelines, even a 5 percent decrease in saturated fat, replaced by monounsaturated or polyunsaturated fats, results in meaningful reduction in associated cardiovascular risks.

Using Omega-9 Oils also will help reduce solid fat intake, which is another recommendation included in the 2010 Dietary Guidelines. Nineteen percent of calories in the U.S. diet come from solid fats, and the guidelines recommend a gradual reduction to a target of 5 to 15 percent of calories from solid fats and added sugars combined. Solid fats include coconut oil, palm kernel oil and hydrogenated oils due to their high saturated fat status. As a strategy to achieve this goal, the guidelines recommend replacing some current solid fat consumption with healthier oils, like Omega-9 Oils.

Hundreds of food manufacturers and restaurants have already demonstrated their commitment to a healthier America by making the switch to Omega-9 Oils. “Popcorn itself is a naturally healthy whole grain and with Omega-9 Canola Oil, we found a way to deliver the great buttery taste in a healthier manner,” said Mike Weaver, President and CEO of Weaver Popcorn Company, Inc. Weaver relied on Omega-9 Oils during the reformulation of its Pop Weaver© brand of microwave popcorn and achieved more than a 50 percent reduction in total fat.

About Dow AgroSciences
Dow AgroSciences, based in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA, is a top-tier agricultural company providing innovative agrochemical and biotechnology solutions globally. The company, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company, has sales of $4.9 billion. Learn more at www.dowagro.com. Follow Dow AgroSciences on Facebook and YouTube or subscribe to our News Release RSS Feed.