Eat more fish and seafood from Norway

“The health benefits derived from eating Norwegian seafood outweigh any risks.” This is the main conclusion of the report published by the Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food Safety (SCF) on 28 March 2006. The committee recommends eating at least four seafood meals a week, including both fatty and lean fish in the diet.

Every day, 27 million meals based on seafood from Norway are eaten worldwide. Seafood is also important for the Norwegian economy, with exports going to 150 countries worldwide.

The Scientific Committee for Food Safety weighed the nutritional benefits of eating fish against the possible risks and, from its findings, produced dietary advice for the general public on eating fish, with particular reference to oily fish. The report is based on more than 300 scientific analyses and studies.

SCF concludes that “a realistic consumption of fish and other seafood does not result in any intake of food substances at a harmful level. This is also true for children.” In other words, the health advantages from eating fish outweigh any risks. “A low intake of marine-derived omega-3 fatty acids can result in a loss of the acids’ recognised health-promoting effects,” concludes the report.

The report backs up similar studies conducted in other countries such as the UK, Denmark and the USA.

SCF also concludes that it is now well documented that fish in general is good for our health. Consumption of particularly fatty fish slows down the development of and prevents cardiovascular disease.

The committee therefore recommends we increase our consumption of fatty types of fish, especially those among us who currently eat very little fatty fish and those who eat the least amount of any type of fish. Studies show that the number of deaths from heart attacks (about 7,000 a year in Norway) could be reduced by four percent – or 300 a year – if Norwegians consumed on average one extra fish dish a week.

Omega-3 fatty acids, which are found in oily fish, are particularly beneficial to pregnant and nursing mothers, since they aid the development of a child’s brain.

However, SCF believes that this group should not eat more than two meals based on fatty fish a week, and adds: “Based on what we know today about fish consumption among young women, there is no reason to believe there any risks, since this group eats only 0.5 meals containing oily fish a week.