Thursday, March 4, 2010

INDUSTRY NEWS: Neptune Krill Oil Tests Below Strictest Detection Limits for PCB; Recognized as a Target of Excellence by Industry Peers and Competi

Neptune Technologies & Bioressources Inc. has announced that the Company is unaffected by the recent PCB contamination observed in marine oils and has confirmed Neptune Krill Oil's safety and quality. As reported yesterday in the ihr newsletter, a California lawsuit has been put forward regarding fish oil products being marketed as supplements that contain amounts of toxic PCBs. "Neptune provides high quality in purity, composition and benefits with its products. We regularly have the purity of NKO(R) rigorously tested at independent accredited laboratories for all potential contaminants including PCBs, dioxins, pesticides and heavy metals, among others. NKO(R) complies with strict standards, which justifies its regulatory approvals in the U.S., Canada, the European Union and Australia. Unlike some other marine oil manufacturers, Neptune is not concerned nor is it affected by the recent observation of fish oil PCB contamination," said Dr. Tina Sampalis, CSO of Neptune.

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Neptune Krill Oil Tests Below Strictest Detection Limits for PCB and Recognized as a Target of Excellence by Industry Peers and Competitors

LAVAL, Quebec, March 4, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Neptune Technologies &
Bioressources Inc. ("Neptune") (Nasdaq:NEPT) (TSX-V:NTB) assures its
customers that it has been unaffected by the recent polychlorinated
biphenyl ("PCB") contamination observed in marine oils and confirms
Neptune Krill Oil's ("NKO(R)") safety and quality. In addition, NKO(R)
is recognized by industry peers as the golden standard for krill oils.

"Neptune provides high quality in purity, composition and benefits with
its products. We regularly have the purity of NKO(R) rigorously tested
at independent accredited laboratories for all potential contaminants
including PCBs, dioxins, pesticides and heavy metals, among others.
NKO(R) complies with strict standards, which justifies its regulatory
approvals in the U.S., Canada, the European Union and Australia. Unlike
some other marine oil manufacturers, Neptune is not concerned nor is it
affected by the recent observation of fish oil PCB contamination," said
Dr. Tina Sampalis, CSO of Neptune.

Also, according to the news published on Nutra-Ingredients on March
2nd, 2010 1, Valensa International ("Valensa") is trying to improve
Aker BioMarine's ("Aker") Superba Krill Oil by adding astaxanthin,
attempting to reach NKO(R) levels of naturally occurring astaxanthin.

"This move apparently makes perfect sense, but it doesn't," said Mr.
Henri Harland, President and CEO of Neptune. "Valensa openly
acknowledges a weakness of Aker's Superba Krill Oil, which contains
substantially less antioxidants than NKO(R). Matching the quantity of
astaxanthin in their product to NKO(R) levels does not necessarily mean
matching the benefits. In fact, their decision to add Valansa`s Zanthin
astaxanthin to reach NKO(R)'s naturally occurring astaxanthin levels
confirms the position of NKO(R) as the golden standard in the krill oil
industry," he stated. "Moreover Neptune disputes Valensa's statement
about having the most stable krill oil in the market with only 2 years
stability while Neptune already guarantees a 3 years real time
stability for NKO(R)," he added.

"We are concerned about the consumers who will believe that an equal
astaxanthin level actually means equal benefits," said Dr. Tina
Sampalis. "This is not necessarily the case. It is fundamental to
consider that the astaxanthin in NKO(R) is esterified on omega-3 fatty
acids, most prominently EPA, one of the two bioactive omega-3s. This is
not the case with astaxanthin derived from plant sources such as algae,
such as Zanthin, the astaxanthin added to Aker's Superba Krill Oil.
Esterified astaxanthin improves the antioxidant activity in the body,
which is essential in order to adequately prevent systemic oxidation, a
critical risk factor for inflammatory and cardiovascular disease," she
concluded.

SOURCE: Globe Newswire

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