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Menhaden reduction plants, through a process of heating, separating, and drying, produce fish meal, fish oil, and fish solubles from fresh menhaden. Meal is a valuable ingredient in poultry and livestock feeds because of its high protein content (at least 60%). The broiler (chicken) industry is currently the largest user of menhaden meal, followed by the turkey, swine, pet food, and ruminant industries. The aquaculture industry has recently demonstrated an increased demand for fish meal as well.
Menhaden oil has been used for many years as an edible oil in Europe. The oil is refined and used extensively in cooking oils and margarine. In 1989, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) concluded that fully and partially hydrogenated menhaden oil is a safe ingredient for human consumption. In 1990, the FDA proposed an amendment, based on an industry petition, to the standard of identity for margarine to permit the use of marine oils. It was approved in 1997 and could provide a significant new market for omega-3 rich menhaden oil.
Solubles are the aqueous liquid component remaining after oil removal. In general, most meal producers add the soluble component to the meal to create a product termed "full meal." The use of solubles as an export product is limited because most companies in the feed industry are not equipped with the necessary storage tanks, pumps, and meters to handle a liquid product.
The world fish meal industry is in the process of adopting low temperature meal technology, a process which yields significantly higher protein content than previous technologies and produces feed components particularly valuable to aquaculturists. Investment in these new processes represents an opportunity for the U.S. industry to broaden its market base and add value to its products. Public sector support, in the form of research on markets, technology development, and new products, will be a key factor in maintaining the domestic menhaden industry's global competitive status.
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