The German group acquired Norwegian fish oil supplier Napro Pharma last year and launched its omega-3 ingredient Omevital at Health Ingredients Europe in November.

As part of its development of this category, Cognis announced it has taken Danish professor Jorn Dyerberg on board as the medical and scientific advisor for omega-3 fish oils in foods.

According to Packaged Facts, omega-3 enriched foods make up the strongest sector of the functional foods market and there is still room for significant growth.

The market researcher reports the United States market value for omega-3 fatty acids grew from approximately $100m to more than $2bn between 2002 and 2006. By 2011, these food products are set to value $7bn.

Packaged Facts also maintains the omega-3 market is still very much dominated by small entrepreneurial companies, which could spell opportunities for larger players like Cognis.

Up until recently flagship products for Cognis included: Tonalin conjugated linoleic acid, Vegapure plant sterols and sterol esters as well as Xangold lutein esters.

Together with Hans Olaf Bang, Dyerberg broke new ground in 1977 with a study linking the rarity of coronary heart disease among the Inuit to omega-3 fatty acids from cold-water oily fish in their diet. Their findings paved the way for further research into omega-3's.

Branded Omevital omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil are available in concentrations up to 60 percent combined EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) long-chain fatty acids in ethyl ester and triglyceride forms.