Introduction:
On December 15, 2021, according to the announcement No. 504 of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China, the two standards of "ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid fortified eggs" NY/T 4069-2021 and "ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid fortified eggs production technical specifications" NY/T 4070-2021 were approved by experts and approved as agricultural industry standards of China, which will be implemented from June 1, 2022.
Background of standard development
Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids mainly include α-linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexanoic acid (DHA). A large number of studies have proved that omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids play an important role in inhibiting chronic diseases, including hyperlipidemia, diabetes, atherosclerosis, inflammation and cancer; In addition, omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids also play an important role in the brain development and visual development of infants and young children. Although the intake of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids can be supplemented from aquatic products and poultry meat, the intake of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids is still generally low or lacking among Chinese residents. Therefore, research and development and production of foods rich in omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids have become important measures and means to promote the dietary balance of fatty acids in Chinese residents.
The production of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids is achieved by adding omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid-rich raw materials such as flaxseed and algae powder to the feed for laying hens, and then enriching the omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids into the eggs through biological transformation in the laying hens. At present, eggs rich in omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids are very common in supermarkets in the United States, Canada, and the European Union, and are gradually beginning to appear in the Chinese market. For foods rich in omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, countries and regions such as Canada and the European Union have relatively complete standard systems, but China still lacks targeted standards to regulate their management. Therefore, the implementation of the two standards, "ω-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid-Enriched Eggs" NY/T 4069-2021 and "ω-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid-Enriched Eggs Production Technical Specifications" NY/T 4070-2021, has important and far-reaching significance for regulating and guiding the production and consumption of foods rich in ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids.
Main technical contents
The main technical content of "ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid fortified eggs" NY/T 4069-2021 includes sensory requirements, nutritional indicators, and safety indicators. It is noteworthy that this document takes nutrition indicators as key technical indicators, which stipulates that the content of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in every 100 g of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid-fortified eggs should be greater than or equal to 300 mg.
Expert interpretation
Researcher Yun Zhenyu, Director of the Agricultural Food Standardization Research Institute of the China National Institute of Standardization, pointed out that the release and implementation of the two industry standards have positive and far-reaching significance for regulating the production of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid-fortified eggs, guiding consumers to pay attention to the intake of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, and promoting the high-quality development of the egg industry.
Associate Professor Yin Shutao, the Deputy Dean of the College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering at China Agricultural University, noted that the "ω-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid-Enriched Eggs" NY/T 4069-2021, which uses nutritional indicators as key technical indicators, is an innovative exploration to implement the "National Nutrition Plan 2017-2030" and the "China Food and Nutrition Development Outline".
Wang Zhihong, a researcher at the Institute of Nutrition and Health of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, mentioned that these two standards further standardize the use of eggs as a carrier to enhance omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, and also provide new paths and measures for improving nutrition and intervention in China.
