Yogurt with fish oil is loved by consumers
Omega-3 Rich Yogurt: A Delight Loved by Consumers
Soon supermarkets may offer exotic-flavored yogurts that hide a rich source of Omega-3. Researchers at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg (USA) have had potential consumers taste a yogurt fortified with fish oil to increase Omega-3 levels. The test results, published in the Journal of Dairy Science, showed that this new product is appreciated by most consumers.
Why Add Omega-3 to Foods?
Omega-3s are the “friendly” fatty acids for health:
- they are essential for proper nervous system development;
- they protect the heart and blood vessels;
- they exert many other health benefits on the body.
The main sources of these nutrients are fatty fish:
- mackerel
- salmon
- tuna
- anchovies
- halibut
Ensuring recommended Omega-3 levels is not always easy. Those who don’t eat fish may struggle to reach them. However, products derived from fish, such as fish oil, contain high amounts of Omega-3. The food industry is also increasingly offering Omega-3 enriched foods.
Virginia Tech’s Proposal
One of the latest proposals comes from Virginia Tech: reaching daily recommended Omega-3 levels with a single serving of yogurt. The wide variety of flavors allows adding fish oil without altering or making the product’s taste unpleasant. A preliminary study showed that consumers noticed no difference in taste when 1% fresh fish oil was added to unflavored yogurt. The addition of oxidized oil, which has a strong fishy taste, was easily detected. Participants were then trained to accurately recognize and describe different flavors:
- lime
- sweet
- spicy
- sour
- oxidized
After trying lime and chili yogurt, tasters reported the fishy taste was much stronger in yogurt with 1% oxidized oil than in those containing 0.43% or 1% fresh fish oil.
Consumers Say Yes to Omega-3 Yogurt
A second test involved 100 health-conscious consumers aware of the benefits of Omega-3 consumption:
- 50% gave positive evaluations to the lime and chili yogurt with fish oil;
- 39% said they would gladly consume it regularly;
- the remaining half did not like the yogurt either due to taste or because it was not sweet enough.
Omega-3 Yogurt: A New Market?
Test coordinator Susan Duncan states that yogurt, combined with the benefits of probiotics, minerals, vitamins, and proteins, can be an excellent means to increase Omega-3 intake. Consumers have welcomed the addition of sufficient fish oil amounts to guarantee the correct daily Omega-3 intake; therefore, the path to marketing this product is open.
Source:
1. Rognlien M, Duncan SE, O'Keefe SF, Eigel WN, “Consumer perception and sensory effect of oxidation in savory-flavored yogurt enriched with n-3 lipids”, J Dairy Sci. 2012 Apr;95(4):1690-8
