DairyReporter.com's Mark Astley spoke with Aurélie Vromaine, product manager at Ingredia Nutritional, at Vitafoods Europe 2014 in Geneva last week, where the French firm was launching Benexia brand chia oil, which it describes as "the best plant source of omega-3."
While awaiting novel food approval from the European Commission (EC), which is forecast to be granted in June 2014, Ingredia is planning its assault of the dairy industry with Benexia chia oil.
"Chia is a big trend now," said Vromaine.
"The problem with the seed is that the applications are limited, so it was bakery or to spread on your salad, and now the oil has opened up new applications for consumers."
"Now they will be able to find chia in every dairy product with omega-3 enrichment in the market," she added.