Company Touts Nutritional Value, Lower Cost Of Perilla Seed, Compared To Chia

U.S. nutritional ingredient manufacturer Valensa International announced the introduction of supplement formulations based on an alpha linolenic acid (ALA) omega-3 ingredient from Perilla seed extract. Perilla seed CO₂ extract has a 6:1 ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acids, higher than any seed oil, and 50 to 60 percent ALA content – twice that of Chia seed extract. Products in the new lineup include Verilla Perilla Seed Extract and Verilla Max Perilla Seed Flour. The move to perilla seed was prompted by a critical shortage of chia seeds globally, the company said, noting that perilla seed extract is available now, has a higher nutritional value than chia, and costs less.