Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Fish Oil Pinch Spurs Search for Alternative Omega-3s

I guess we can expect prices for Omega-3 to start rising fast soon. My mother and I take three capsules each every day so cost could become an issue at some point.

As for genetically modified Omega-3, I guess we will make the decision when the new products become available.
clipped from blogs.wsj.com
The global commodities boom extends even to the ocean depths: The price of crude fish oil has nearly tripled in the past five years.
This matters to you, Health Blog reader, because fish oil is a primary source of omega-3 fatty acids, the nutritional supplements that may reduce the risk of heart disease and a host of other ailments.

The price has been rising as Baby Boomers (and others) have been swallowing ever more fish oil. Global fisheries, alas, are already under pressure and can’t keep up with the habit.

Responding to this growing imbalance, some big corporate players are using biotech gene-splicing techniques to create land-based supplies of omega-3s, Dow Jones Newswires reports.

DuPont hopes to use genetically modified yeast to crank out omega-3s. Monsanto is trying soy beans. And Dow AgroSciences and Martek Biosciences are splicing algae genes into canola seeds. The products could come to market within the next few years.