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Eau Plus, a new Swiss company upon teaming up with an undisclosed technology partner have developed a way to derive omega-3 containing both EPA and DHA from algae. The process is said to be oil and water based, involving no chemicals and uses the whole algae, which results in a 99% pure product and could be a cheaper alternative of fish oil, which is the main source of omega-3's.

Tom Brudenell-Bruce, Eau Plus's company executive could not disclose the name of the technology partner, but told NutraIngredients.com that patent applications are in the process of being made.

"Fish stocks are dwindling, and there are alternatives out there," he said. Moreover, he said that production costs for Eau Plus' product is significantly cheaper to produce than fish oil omega-3.

"We will be able to undercut the fish oil market," he said. "We would expect to take the biggest share of this market."

In the first instance the company is introducing the EPA/DHA in finished supplement form, with a view to offering it as an ingredient in about 12 months time.

The finished products, called Algae Pure, are sold in Europe only over the internet, through the company's UK arm. This is because regulatory approval in Europe requires full public disclosure of the production process, which the company is not prepared to do since it is not yet protected by patents.

Read more at NutraIngredients.