A GROUP comprising Golden Vale and nine European partners, including three Irish universities, has been awarded three million ECU (£3.72 million) by the European Union to conduct a three year food research programme.

The programme will examine how the fish oil nutrient Omega 3 can be incorporated into a number of foodstuffs. Omega 3, which has benefits in the prevention of heart disease, is currently used in Golden Vale's Live spread, which was launched recently. Golden Vale will be the main commercial beneficiary of the research.

The study, which is being carried out in part by Trinity College Dublin; University College Cork and the University of Ulster, will look at the possible future application of Omega 3 across a wide range of foods including ready made meals, infant formulae, soups and breakfast cereals.

The Omega 3 nutrient occurs particularly in oily fish including herring and mackerel.