In December 2024, the corporate utilized for modifications to the circumstances of use of the novel meals ‘Calanus finmarchicus oil’, and the European Commission has now accepted those amendments, which embrace increased astaxanthin ranges, increased each day consumption limits and extra versatile labelling guidelines for Zooca Calanus Oil.
For adults, the utmost each day consumption has elevated from 2.3 g to three.1 g/day (≤ 7.75 mg astaxanthin/day), giving model house owners the chance for stronger and versatile formulations, the corporate stated.
“This regulatory change offers higher flexibility in complement design,” Zooca said in a press launch. “It broadens the potential goal teams and makes it simpler to create compliant merchandise for youngsters, adolescents and adults with the identical ingredient base. The change helps stronger use of present EFSA-approved claims for EPA and DHA.
“We’re proud to have initiated and secured this optimistic change, additional strengthening the regulatory basis for Zooca Calanus Oil within the EU market.”
Past Europe, calanus oil was formally accepted by the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) for inclusion within the Customary for Fish Oils final 12 months, a transfer the corporate hailed as facilitating market entry to “nations that base their meals laws on Codex requirements, simplifying registration and commerce processes for calanus oil”.
Sourced from copepods
Calanus oil is extracted from the copepods of the identical title, Calanus finmarchicus. It accommodates the omega-3s EPA, SDA and DHA predominantly within the wax ester type (the oil is barely viscous). The oil additionally accommodates astaxanthin, which supplies its ruby coloration, and marine policosanols.
Wax esters are traditionally related to penguin, seal and whale oil however are being produced by Norwegian firm Zooca (previously Calanus AS) from C. finmarchicus.
In accordance with Salma et al. (Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids, 2016, Vol. 108, pp. 13-21), Calanus finmarchicus is “essentially the most ample crustacean within the North Atlantic Ocean.”
Sourcing, sustainability, and science
The sourcing and sustainability of the copepod have been detailed in a current evaluation revealed in Lipidology. Specialists from UiT—The Arctic College of Norway, Leibniz College Hannover and Zooca (Calanus AS) report that the impression of harvesting C. finmarchicus within the Norwegian Sea is modest, with a “really helpful, precautionary annual quota of this useful resource is 0.5% of the standing inventory”.
The evaluation additionally explores the potential well being advantages of calanus oil, noting that early pre-clinical research with the oil have been first revealed round 2012 and centered on cardiometabolic well being. A lot of the analysis used overweight rodent fashions and located that dietary supplementation with calanus oil exhibited “vital anti-obesity and anti inflammatory results.”
“These results have been related to the attenuation of obesity-related dysfunction of metabolism, resembling insulin resistance and liver steatosis, in addition to preservation of cardiac metabolic flexibility and restoration of post-ischemic ventricular perform,” the reviewers wrote.
Human intervention research utilizing doses starting from 2 grams per day to 4 grams per day have proven that calanus oil dietary supplements might beneficially impression a spread of biomarkers and well being endpoints, together with fats mass, insulin resistance and muscle energy (when mixed with train).
“The findings from preclinical and medical analysis mentioned counsel that calanus oil has the potential to alleviate obesity-related metabolic problems,” the reviewers wrote. “Nonetheless, additional research are wanted to look at the position of calanus oil as a dietary complement, with respect to dosage and length of the remedy, the interaction between the varied elements of the oil and focused examine inhabitants.”
Supply: Lipidology, 2025, 2(2), 11; doi: 10.3390/lipidology2020011. “A Novel Marine Oil from the Copepod Calanus finmarchicus: Supply, Harvesting, Chemistry and Potential Utility in Human Well being”. Authors: E. Aasum, et al.
