Consumers need to enrich their seafood habits

New statistics show Britons eat nowhere near enough oil-rich fish, reports www.megafishnet.com with reference to Seafish.

Seafish, the authority on seafood, warned today that UK consumers need to greatly increase their intake of oil-rich fish in order to achieve a healthy, balanced diet.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has released new findings from the National Diet and Nutrition Survey which reveal that both adults and children are not eating the recommended two portions of seafood per week, one of which should be oil-rich.

The FSA survey revealed that oily fish consumption was especially low, at 8g per day for adults and 2g per day for children equivalent to 56g and 14g per week for adults and children respectively. "This is less than a quarter of one portion of oil-rich fish, and a long way below healthy levels of consumption", said Dr Jon Harman, Development Director at Seafish.

A recent survey undertaken by Seafish also revealed that more than eight out of ten Britons - 83% - described seafood as healthy but only about one third manage to eat the recommended two portions of seafood a week. Less than half of the British population (47%) were aware that the UK government recommends consuming two portions of seafood a week, one of which should be oil-rich fish.

Dr Harman continued: "Oil-rich seafood is also the best natural source of long-chain omega 3 fatty acids, which are proven to help maintain heart health. It is particularly important to encourage children to eat oily fish for their brain and muscle development."

"As an island nation, the range of species available offers UK consumers a fantastic opportunity to enjoy and explore the tastes and textures of seafood - with over 100 species native to the UK, plenty of which are oil-rich. These statistics highlight the need for our eating habits to adapt in order to ensure a long and healthy life."