Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs)

Cargill is your partner for growth in early life nutrition. That’s why we offer the long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic acid (ARA) for your infant nutrition success.

DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) is an important micronutrient for optimal functioning at every stage of life. DHA is especially crucial during the initial 1,000 days, which includes the maternal, infant, and childhood phases. It has been linked to normal and healthy pregnancy as well as optimal vision and brain development in infants. This early life period profoundly shapes not only the immediate physical and cognitive growth, but also sets the foundation for lifelong health.

The many benefits that algae-based DHA brings are the reason why Cargill offers algae-based DHA (extracted from strain Schizochytrium, using a patented solvent-free process) from Canadian-headquartered innovator MARA. This serves as an alternative and potent source of Omega 3 reducing the impact on marine life by not contributing to overfishing of the oceans.

Arachidonic acid (ARA), when used in conjunction with DHA, represents a nutrient combination that is important for infant development. ARA is an omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid [C20:4 (n-6)], naturally present in mother’s milk.  Since infants do not yet have the ability to convert dietary fatty acids into ARA & DHA, mother’s milk is their only natural source of these long chain PUFAs. To make these important nutrients available to infants who are not breast fed, they are widely added to infant formula products.

Cargill offers high quality ARA oil and has been serving the worldwide market for infant formula for several years. Our products and processes are designed to meet the stringent quality and food safety requirements of the international infant formula market. Our global presence and distribution strength has been tested and proven over the years.