Children's Nutrition Survey Reveals Majority of U.S. Parents Unaware of DHA Benefits to Children's Health
This Children's nutritional survey was commissioned by Stremicks Heritage Foods. (PRNewsFoto/Stremicks Heritage Foods) SANTA ANA, CA UNITED STATES
Survey finds majority of U.S. parents aren't aware of the critical part DHA
plays in the development of children's heart, brain and eyes
SANTA ANA, Calif. /APW/ -- Stremicks Heritage
Foods(TM) has announced the results of its 2008 Children's Nutrition
Survey, which indicates that a majority of U.S. parents aren't aware of the
critical benefits of DHA in the development of their children's heart,
brain and eyes. The research, conducted by Harris Interactive, reveals that
68 percent of U.S. parents are not sure what omega-3 DHA does, and 59
percent of parents are not aware of the benefits of omega-3 DHA to their
child's health.
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Though nearly three in four (72%) of the survey respondents said that
they make a conscious effort to include certain vitamins and nutrients such
as vitamin C (55%) and calcium (53%) in their child's daily diet, only
seven percent are consciously including omega-3 DHA. And while about one in
five are aware of the importance of omega-3 DHA before (19%) and during
pregnancy (22%), less than one in five recognize the importance of this
nutrient to a newborn (18%) or infant (18%), and even fewer know that
omega-3 DHA is especially important to the health of toddlers (16%) and
preschool-aged children (14%).
DHA is an omega-3 fatty acid found throughout the body, with
significant amounts found in the heart, retinas and brain, where it
accounts for up to 20 percent of total brain mass. DHA is important for
brain and eye development and function throughout the lifecycle, but is
particularly important between birth and five years of age, when the brain
increases approximately three-and-a-half times in mass, and DHA content
increases from 1 gram to approximately 4.5 grams. DHA also is the primary
structural fat in both the brain and retina, and ensures that cells in the
brain, retina, heart and other parts of the nervous system develop and
function properly.
"Our survey makes it clear that parents need to understand the
importance of DHA, and how to easily get the nutrient into their children's
diets to ensure optimal growth and development," said Sam Stremick,
Director of Sales and Marketing for Stremicks Heritage Foods. "Most
American children consume less than optimal levels of DHA primarily because
the foods that naturally contain DHA are organ meats and fatty fish, which
are not generally liked by young children. In addition, picky and
unbalanced eating habits, as well as food allergies make it difficult for
parents to ensure their children are obtaining optimal levels of DHA."
While the FDA does not have a regulation establishing a recommended
daily intake for DHA, the agency has not objected to the use of 160mg as a
daily value for DHA for children over four and adults. Many leading health
authorities and pediatricians recommend 150 mg/day for children. The
average U.S. child, ages from one to five years old, is shown to have DHA
intakes ranging from only 20-30 mg/day.
"Including DHA in the diet is the most reliable way to ensure that
sufficient amounts of DHA are available to support optimal growth and
development," notes Stremick. "Our DHA-fortified milk products help parents
ensure their children are obtaining adequate amounts of DHA in their diets,
with each eight ounce serving providing 32mg of DHA. As a family-owned food
and beverage company, we're proud to be able to offer our customers a great
tasting, rBST-free milk that is also an excellent source of DHA."
About Stremicks Heritage Foods
Stremicks Heritage Foods(TM) (Heritage), founded in 1990, manufactures,
sells and distributes value-added, specialty beverage products on a
regional and national scale. Headquartered in Santa Ana, Calif., the
company operates in Santa Ana and Riverside, Calif.; Cedar City, Utah;
Joplin, Missouri and Mexicali, Mexico. Heritage owns or licenses such well
recognized brands as Heritage Milk with omega-3 DHA, Kern's Beverages,
Nesquik, Rice Dream and Soy Dream, Heritage Organic Milk, Heritage Organic
Milk with omega-3 DHA and 8th Continent Soy Milk. For more information,
visit http://www.StremicksHeritageFoods.com.
About the Survey
Harris Interactive is a global leader in custom market research. This
2008 Children's Nutrition Survey was conducted online within the United
States by Harris Interactive on behalf of Stremicks Heritage Foods between
March 20-25, 2008 among 1,244 U.S. adults ages 18+ who are parents or legal
guardians of children under the age of 18. This online survey is not based
on a probability sample and therefore no estimates of theoretical sampling
error can be calculated. For complete methodology, including weighting
variables, please contact Sharon Villanueva Scott at (323) 957-2745.
2008 Children's Nutrition Survey Key Findings
-- A majority of U.S. parents (68%) are not sure exactly what omega-3 DHA
does.
-- 59% of parents are not aware of the benefits of omega-3 DHA to their
child's health.
-- Though nearly three in four (72%) make a conscious effort to include
certain vitamins and nutrients such as vitamin C (55%) and calcium
(53%) in their child's daily diet, only 7% are consciously including
omega-3 DHA.
-- Parents are twice as likely to consider omega-3 fatty acids in general
(15%) as they are to consider omega-3 DHA in particular (7%) for their
child's diet.
-- Nearly two in three parents (63%) say they didn't realize omega-3 DHA
is a specific type of omega-3 fatty acid.
-- Only about one in three parents (35%) is familiar with a variety of
sources of omega-3 DHA.
-- About one in five are aware of the importance of omega-3 DHA before
(19%) and during pregnancy (22%). Less than one in five recognize the
importance of this nutrient to a newborn (18%) or infant (18%). And
even fewer know that omega-3 DHA is also important to the health of
toddlers (16%) and preschool-aged children (14%).
-- Not surprisingly, women are more likely than men to be aware of the
benefits of omega-3 DHA at certain phases of development.
-- Few parents report that their child regularly (at least twice a week)
consumes natural sources of omega-3 DHA such as tuna (24%), salmon
(7%) or flaxseed/flaxseed oil (4%).
-- Only one in ten (10%) says their child regularly consumes omega-3 DHA
fortified dairy products such as milk (5%) or eggs (7%).
-- A majority of parents (72%) agree that it would be easier to ensure
their child gets the recommended amount of omega-3 DHA if they didn't
have to try to get their child to eat foods like salmon and flaxseed
oil.
