As more foods "enriched" with omega-3 fats inundate our grocery stores, it is important to be aware of the sources and reasons they're there.
I have just posted two articles about omega-3s: First, Omega-3s for Vegetarians and second, Vegetarian Sources of Omega-3s.
The benefits of omega-3 fats has been known for several decades, but the food manufacturers are just catching on now. And that means bad news for vegetarians and people allergic to fish.
I don't think Hippocrates would agree with our current use of "Let food be your medicine".
I rant because omega-3-supplemented foods are everywhere. They come from either fish/seafood or from plants, though it doesn't seem labelling it is a very big concern for the food industry. This makes it especially difficult - and time-consuming - for vegetarians to ensure their purchases are ethical and animal-free.
Bring your glassess shopping, because you will need to read the fine print.
Take Dairy-Oh brand DHA-fortified milk, which claims it is "naturally" enriched with DHA. Its ingredient list is identical to regular milk. But these cows are fed a very un-natural diet containing fish, and that's not labelled anywhere.
Wonder brand bread Headstart bread also contains DHA from fish. I know it might be a difficult sell to parents and kids if FISH was splashed across the front of the bag, but consumers have a right to know. The Headstart website is deliberately vague, also using words like "natural" without providing any real information.
Maybe the Western diet is unbalanced when it comes to essential fats. But the remedy lies in a healthful pattern of eating: whole foods and plenty of plants, not in supplementing up the wazhoo to compensate for an overprocessed fast food diet the rest of the time.
Just like any nutrient du jour, animal products are not essential. I obviously prefer the companies who use plant-based sources, but will support those who at least clearly label and communicate transparently with their consumers.
