The intake of omega-3 oils and vegetable oils in the European Union

When food regulations in the European Union (EU) are developed, no distinction is typically made between vegetable oils and oils rich in long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and these oils are usually grouped together. Yet, consumption patterns for EPA/DHA omega-3 oils are very different to those for vegetable oils. This study estimated the daily intake of EPA/DHA omega-3 oils in the European population and compared this with the intake of vegetable oils. These estimates were undertaken by making use of the European Food Safety Authority's (EFSA) Comprehensive Food Consumption Database and the DietEx Tool, along with industry data on omega-3 oil volumes sold into the EU, a review of EPA/DHA content in food supplements, fortified food and infant formula products, from data on food supplement usage and EPA/DHA intake from the scholarly literature and consumer surveys. The results show that in adults, the average daily intake of EPA/DHA omega-3 oils is approximately 50 times lower than that of vegetable oils. Due to these distinct dietary patterns and consumption estimates, separate categories for omega-3 PUFA oils and vegetable oils should be considered when establishing regulations for foods or food categorisation systems.