Fatty acid-based dietary supplements: focus on coding

Dietary supplements, particularly those based on fatty acids, are increasingly popular due to growing interest in preventive health and wellness. Popular options include omega-3-rich fish oil containing EPA and DHA, krill oil and plant-based alternatives like flaxseed and algae oil. Omega-6 supplements, such as borage and evening primrose oils, and combination omega-3, 6 and 9 supplements often include vitamin E to prevent oxidation. Traceability in the dietary supplement market ensures transparency, safety and quality by tracking the product's journey from producer to consumer. It prevents fraud, supports swift recalls, and builds consumer trust while improving organisational efficiency through enhanced data collection and communication. Classification systems like LanguaL™ and FoodEx2 aid in global data standardisation, organisation and safety assessments. This research aims to apply LanguaL™ and FoodEx2 to fatty acid-based supplements to develop a harmonised data system. LanguaL™ uses multilingual descriptors to classify food products, while FoodEx2 employs a hierarchical structure to support exposure and risk evaluations. LanguaL^TM and FoodEx2 codes of 30 fatty acids-based dietary supplements present on the market were created. Aligned with FAIR principles, it promotes data accessibility and usability, facilitating efficient data sharing among stakeholders and improving transparency and traceability.