Martek Announces Launch of Oroweat 9 Grain Bread, First Bread with Martek's life'sDHA

COLUMBIA, Md. (Map) - COLUMBIA, Md., March 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Martek Biosciences (Nasdaq: MATK) announced today the launch of the first bread product with life'sDHA(TM), its patented, vegetarian form of DHA omega-3 for brain, eye and heart health. The first and only U.S. bread with vegetarian DHA, Oroweat 9 Grain Bread with life'sDHA from Bimbo Bakeries USA is now available at major retailers in the Pacific Northwest, California, Arizona and Nevada.

"This new launch from Bimbo Bakeries demonstrates the broad range of applications for life'sDHA," said David Abramson, Martek president. "From dairy products like milk and yogurt, to beverages like smoothies and juices, and now, breads with Oroweat 9 Grain Bread, life'sDHA is the ideal DHA source for products that consumers know and use every day."

"DHA has proven health benefits. Now, our customers can find these benefits for the first time in bread," said Larson. "Our goal at Oroweat is to 'perfect bread.' In doing so, we are continually looking at ways to provide our customers new ways to incorporate bread into their healthy lifestyles. Active Health and 9 Grain with Omega-3 DHA lead the way in bread innovation."

DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) omega-3 is a long-chain omega-3 fatty acid that serves as a primary building block for the brain and the eyes and supports brain, eye and cardiovascular health throughout life. There is a large and growing body of scientific evidence demonstrating that people of all ages, from infants to aging adults, benefit from an adequate supply of DHA omega-3 in their diets. Scientific reviews have noted the importance of DHA omega-3 in proper brain and eye development and function, and there are clinical studies underway to evaluate its role in decreasing the prevalence of certain neurological disorders.

Fish are often thought to be the only source of DHA omega-3. However, life'sDHA offers a trusted, vegetarian form of DHA that contains no oceanic pollutants and toxins. Fish are good sources of DHA because of the DHA-rich microalgae in their food chain; life'sDHA is derived from microalgae and produced in an FDA-inspected facility from start to finish using a sustainable source that does not deplete ocean resources. life'sDHA is found in numerous foods, beverages and supplements for people of all ages. It is also the only source of DHA used in U.S. infant formula and is available in more than 90 percent of the formulas on the U.S. market.

Oroweat is produced by Bimbo Bakeries USA (BBU). Bimbo Bakeries USA operates 13 bakeries and distributes leading brands such as Oroweat, Mrs Baird's, Thomas', Entenmann's, Tia Rosa, Francisco, Bimbo and Marinela. BBU operates approximately 3,000 sales routes and has approximately 7,000 U.S. associates. Bimbo Bakeries USA is headquartered in Fort Worth and is the U.S. Division of Mexico's Grupo Bimbo, one of the world's largest baking companies with over 91,000 associates and operations in 18 countries throughout the Americas, Asia and Europe. Its stock has been trading on the Mexican Stock Exchange since 1980 under the ticker BIMBO. More information about Bimbo's full line of products can be found at http://www.bimbousa.com/.

Martek Biosciences Corporation (Nasdaq: MATK) is a leader in the innovation and development of DHA omega-3 products that promote health and wellness through every stage of life. The company produces life'sDHA(TM), a sustainable and vegetarian source of the omega-3 fatty acid DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), for use in foods, beverages, infant formula, and supplements. The company also produces life'sARA(TM) (arachidonic acid), an omega-6 fatty acid, from a sustainable, vegetarian source, for use in infant formula. For more information on Martek Biosciences Corporation, visit http://www.martek.com. For a complete listing of life'sDHA products, visit http://www.lifesdha.com.

Sections of this release contain forward-looking statements. These statements are based upon numerous assumptions which Martek cannot control and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ. These statements should be understood in light of the risk factors set forth in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, but not limited to, the company's Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2007 and other filed reports on Form 10-K, Form 10-K/A, Form 10-Q and Form 8-K.