Sep 17, 2008

Superfood or Monster From the Deep?

Published: September 16, 2008

OFF the coast of Peru swim billions of sardines and anchovies: oily, smelly little fish, rich in nutritious omega-3 fatty acids. Their spot on the food chain is low; many will be caught, ground up, and fed as fishmeal to bigger animals

MIXING IT UP Food companies have been extracting nutrients from one food (like tomatoes, broccoli, green tea, pomegranates) and processing them into other foods (like breakfast cereal, chocolate, coffee and ginger ale).

But a few have a more exalted destiny: to be transported, purified and served at North American breakfast tables in the form of Tropicana Healthy Heart orange juice and Wonder Headstart bread. These new products promise to deliver the health benefits of fish oil without the smell and the taste — without, in fact, the fish.

The possible benefits of eating omega-3s include cardiovascular protection and improved neural development in children.

However, “People just aren’t eating salmon or sardines twice a day,” said Ellie Halevy, director for marketing of Tropicana, which is owned by PepsiCo. “But they will drink two glasses of orange juice, if it has no fishy taste and all the benefits.”..............


For the full article, click on the link below:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/17/dining/17nutrients.html?_r=1&8dpc&oref=slogin

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