Ocean Nutrition Canada (ONC), Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada, formally congratulated Wilmar on the launch of Arawana 3A+ premium cooking oil in a ceremony at the Natural Products Expo West show in March. Offering the added health benefits of omega 3 EPA/DHA from MEG-3 fish oil, this is the first Chinese cooking oil to exhibit such outstanding innovation, according to ONC.

A national survey conducted by the Ministry of Health of the People’s Republic of China shows that the average daily intake of EPA/DHA of Chinese residents is only 37.6 mg per day. This daily intake is less than 25% of the EPA/DHA level accepted by the Institute of Medicine (IOM), and less than 10% of the intake recommended by the International Society for the Study of Fatty Acids and Lipids (ISSFAL). Due to this deficiency in the Chinese diet, Wilmar, in association with the Chinese Nutrition Society (CNS), launched Arawana blended oil enriched with MEG-3 fish oil.

ONC says Arawana 3A+ premium cooking oil is a technological breakthrough in terms of blended vegetable oil products, containing sufficient omega 3 (450 mg EPA/DHA per 100-gram serving) to help Chinese consumers meet IOM omega 3 intake recommendations. “Adding the goodness of EPA/DHA into a well-established Chinese household staple is a healthy step in the right direction,” the company said, adding, “This exciting product is making it easier for Chinese families to benefit from EPA/DHA, while consuming an already popular and essential product.”

The Arawana 3A+ cooking oil is widely distributed in China and is available at supermarkets and traditional markets throughout the country. So far the company has spent about $100 million on promotions and advertising. To date, it has generated $230 million in sales.