The Global Organization for EPA and DHA Omega-3s (GOED) is celebrating its 10th anniversary supporting the EPA and DHA omega-3 industry. The organization was founded in 2006 as a spin-off of an omega-3 working group within the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) and has made significant strides in its objectives to promote the consumption of EPA and DHA and protect the category by assuring it makes quality products that consumers can trust. GOED originally began with 12 member companies; membership now includes 200+ companies from around the world in all aspects of the omega-3 value chain and in multiple markets ranging from seafood to supplements to pharmaceuticals.

Adam Ismail, who has been GOED’s executive director since its inception, reflected on this milestone. “We have seen a lot of growth since our start in 2016 and have had incredible support from our member companies. While we have achieved a lot in the last 10 years, we still have a lot more work to do.”

Notably, Mr. Ismail mentioned the lack of a DRI for EPA and DHA in the U.S. and Canada, and the ongoing challenges to omega-3 science and safety, as areas of focus. “Our foundation is science. Three thousand human clinical trials have yielded positive results and establish the importance of EPA and DHA omega-3s for improving public health. We will continue our work in geographies around the world to spread this message.”

GOED kicked off its anniversary year last month with its annual board of director elections, selecting its tenth slate of officers. GOED’s new Chairperson is Tom Feeley, vice president—planning and operations at DSM. He succeeds Leslie Van der Meulen, general manager at BioProcess Algae, who will continue to serve on the board as past-chair. Carilyn Anderson, president of Carlson Labs, continues as secretary and treasurer.