For Immediate Release

FDA ALLOWS A HEALTH CLAIM FOR OMEGA-3 FATTY ACIDS

DHA and EPA Evidence Suggests DHA and EPA May Reduce Risk of Coronary Heart Disease; Linolenic (LNA) is not Included in the Health Claim

November 13, 2000

BOULDER, CO -- On October 31, 2000 the FDA published a letter defining a qualified health claim for Omega-3 Fatty Acids (DHA and EPA) and Coronary Heart Disease (CHD). The claim states, "The scientific evidence about whether omega-3 fatty acids may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) is suggestive ... " FDA writes in the letter "there is suggestive evidence that the benefit on CHD reported in diseased populations will carry over to the general population ... " and, "The evidence from intervention trials with CHD as an endpoint is strongly favorable in a diseased population showing that omega-3 fatty acid intake is related to reduced risk of CHD."

"FDA's scientific conclusion is positive and gives industry a clear mandate to move forward with research on DHA and EPA in healthy populations," says Dr. Mary Van Elswyk, vice president of Scientific Affairs at OmegaTech.

The FDA letter clarifies that the health claim applies only to long-chain Omega-3 fatty acids, DHA or EPA from fish or marine algae, and not to the short-chain Omega-3 fatty acid, linolenic acid (LNA) which is derived from plants such as flax or canola. Now, any product that provides only LNA and uses this health claim would be misbranded and subject to FDA enforcement. After 10 years of research in the area of all omega-3 fatty acids, the FDA's conclusion remains the same, "that the potential nutrient/disease relationship was appropriately limited to EPA and DHA and their effect on CHD risk."

"Americans have one of the lowest dietary levels of DHA in the world," said Mark A. Braman, president and CEO of OmegaTech, Inc. "We expect this announcement will help raise consumer awareness about the importance of diet in preventing disease, and the special significance that DHA can have in maintaining heart health."

Consumers can also obtain the benefits of DHA through OmegaTech 's DHA GOLD® nutritional ingredients. Through a patented production process and under carefully controlled conditions, OmegaTech extracts high-purity DHA GOLD oil from marine algae, nature's original source of DHA.

The oil, and the marine algae it is extracted from, are 100% vegetarian and not genetically modified. DHA GOLD dietary supplements are available at GNC and Rite Aid stores nationwide under the PharmAssure(TM) brand and are trademarked Goldminds(TM), Prenatal Companion(TM), CardioFlow(TM) and Cardiomega(TM).

GOLD CIRCLE FARMS® brand eggs, with higher levels of DHA, are now available nationwide, providing consumers with a great tasting alternative to fish and supplements. The hens that lay GOLD CIRCLE FARMS eggs are fed a high-quality, nutritious vegetarian diet enriched with DHA Omega-3 from marine algae. A person who eats one GOLD CIRCLE FARMS egg a day can get 1,050 mg of DHA Omega-3 every week -- equal to the amount from two servings of fish recommended by the American Heart Association.

OmegaTech is a leading bioscience company specializing in the research and development of nutrients for use in infant, child and adult nutrition products, pharmaceuticals, dietary supplements, functional foods and animal health products. The company holds more than 30 patents for its natural vegetarian source of DHA Omega-3 fatty acid. OmegaTech products are marketed nationwide under the DHA GOLD® and Gold Circle Farms® brands.

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