Consumption of foods and food supplements that contain oil from microalgae Schizochytrium sp. and Krill oil do not cause harm to our health. Only at extreme high intakes the most conservative tolerable upper level would be surpassed by 10 percent of the older children and adults. Such a scenario is little realistic.
Since a few years foods and food supplements that contain oil from microalgae Schizochytrium sp. and Krill oil, have been introduced to the Dutch market. Krill are small shrimp-like crustaceans. The oils are rich of EPA and DHA, known as 'healthy' fish fatty acids. Adverse effects in humans associated with high intakes of EPA and DHA comprise bleeding episodes, impaired immune function, increased lipid peroxidation, and impaired lipid and glucose metabolism.
To perform this research RIVM developed a procedure to monitor in what foods and to what levels an ingredient has been added (post-launch monitoring). The method can be applied to novel food ingredients, so foods that are introduced to the European market after May 1997 and for which it is required to assess whether they are safe before introduction to the market. With post-launch monitoring it might be tested whether the daily tolerable level of the novel ingredient will indeed not be exceeded.