UK Parliamentary inquiry encourages increased seafood consumption to improve health

Media release –11 March 2008

UK Parliamentary report recommends: “Eat more fish.”

A UK Parliamentary inquiry encourages increased seafood consumption to improve mental and physical wellbeing.

A 12-month UK Parliamentary inquiry has recommended all Britons eat more fish to improve both physical and mental health.

Mr Roy Palmer, the Australian link in Seafood Services Australia’s Global Seafood Health Network said today the year-long inquiry had made its recommendation after analyzing more than 50 oral and written submissions from leading international experts on human nutrition.

“The Parliamentarians were unequivocal in their report,” Mr Palmer said. “They said outright ‘We recommend that all people in the UK should be encouraged to eat more fish. They went on to say: ‘The evidence we have heard indicates that increasing the average amount [of fish] per person consumed to two portions of oily fish per week would be beneficial for the physical and mental health of people in the UK because it remains the best source of Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (oils).’

“This applies equally well in Australia,” Mr Palmer said. “Just like the UK, average consumption of seafood in Australia is far lower than it should be for optimum physical and mental good health. If a similar inquiry was held here, it would make the same recommendation: everyone should be eating more seafood for their health.

“The report by the UK Associate Parliamentary Food and Health Forum neatly sums up the current state of knowledge about the benefits of seafood. Everything from neurological development and mental health to outlining the areas where more research is needed.

Mr Palmer said: ”Prevention is better than cure. The Australian Government should be actively encouraging greater consumption of seafood here. The Government should be using this as a steering document for high priority issues including further research on the health benefits of seafood such as defining the optimum intake of long chain Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in different stages of life.

“The report strongly recommends everyone should be eating more seafood for both mental and physical health.”

FURTHER INFORMATION
Mr Roy Palmer 0419 528 733

The links between diet and behaviour: the influence of nutrition on mental health (the 40 page Parliamentary report released on January 30) Seafood for Life

Note: Seafood Services Australia’s Global Health Network is a part of the Seafood for life Program which aims to distribute and educate seafood retailers on the health benefits of eating seafood, to help strengthen marketing campaigns and increase consumer awareness.

Issued: Tue Apr 1 9:22:20 EST

Reference-id: SSANEWS0214

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