The average UK diet contains only 50% of the recommended daily intake (RDI) for long chain Omega 3, so choosing St Ivel Fresh Milk with Omega 3 is a convenient way to help top up your intake of long chain Omega 3.

Oily fish is the best source of long chain Omega 3 fatty acids, notably EPA (Eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (Docosahexaenoic acid), which are the most effective in the body.

The Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition and Committee on Toxicity² looked into the benefits and risks of fish consumption. In 2004, they produced a report, which recommends that we eat two portions of fish a week, one of which should be oily fish. For pregnant mums they recommend eating between one and two portions of fish a week.

Eating two portions of fish a week will give us approximately 3.15 grams of long chain Omega 3 (EPA and DHA) a week, or 0.45 grams per day. The average UK intake of long chain Omega 3 from fish is 1.3 grams per week³ which is less than 50% of the government recommended weekly intake. The report concluded that the majority of the population does not eat enough fish, particularly oily fish, and increased consumption should be encouraged. Only 27% of adults are regular consumers of oily fish³.

The current UK average intake of long chain Omega 3 fatty acids (EPA & DHA) is 0.24 grams per day (of which 0.2 grams is from fish³).

Currently, young people have the lowest intake of long chain Omega 3, which may be due to their low consumption of oily fish and may compromise the potential widely acknowledged health benefits.

Foods with added long chain Omega 3 such as St Ivel Fresh Milk with Omega 3 also make a significant contribution to intakes.

¹ SACN & COT Report 2004. Recommended Daily Intake (page 3)
² SACN & COT Report 2004. Advice on Fish Consumption: benefits and risks (pages 103 - 106)

³ Lipgene Conference 2007 – Omega 3 intakes for the UK and options for increase. R Gibbs, Nov 2007.