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Dr. William Sears and Ocean Nutrition take flight on American Airlines to Spread Consumer Awareness of the Health Benefits of Omega-3 EPA/DHA

Posted on: Monday, 2 March 2009, 06:00 CST

Ocean Nutrition Canada takes awareness of Omega-3 to new heights

HALIFAX, March 02 /PRNewswire/ - Ocean Nutrition Canada Limited (ONC), supplier of MEG-3(R) brand Omega-3 EPA/DHA food and dietary supplement ingredients from fish oil, and Dr. William Sears, partner to develop consumer awareness of the health benefits of Omega-3 EPA/DHA. Dr. Sears participated in the consumer awareness campaign with an interview segment (http://www.onc.ca/Press/Docs/SEARS-WILLIAM-12.12.08.mp3) with Sky Radio which will play on American Airlines flights for the month of March 2009. The interview will play on approximately 29,000 audio-equipped American Airlines with flights worldwide, reaching approximately 4.2 million travelers.

Dr. William Sears, also known as "America's Pediatrician" is an Associate Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at the University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine. Dr. Sears has been practicing pediatrics for over 35 years and is considered one of the leading experts on pediatrics and nutrition in the United States. Dr. Sears is a proponent of Omega-3 EPA/DHA from fish oil and he is personally committed to raising awareness of the global nutritional deficient that exists for Omega-3.

The absence of Omega-3 EPA/DHA from fish oil, in addition to a rise in Omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) (which are found in most types of vegetable oil) in the western diet can be linked to rapid increases in the number of inflammatory and auto-immune diseases. There are over 8,000 clinical studies to support the health benefits of Omega-3 EPA/DHA from fish oil. This body of research suggests that the combination of Omega-3 EPA and DHA reduces the risk of heart disease, and may reduce symptoms of attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder, Alzheimer's, depression, postpartum depression, and stress. There is also evidence to suggest that Omega-3 EPA and DHA may improve cognitive function, and may play a positive role in the management of obesity.

Research indicates that consumer awareness of the health benefits of Omega-3 is very high. However, there still exists a lack of understanding of the three types of Omega-3 (EPA - Eicosapentaenoic Acid, DHA - Docosahexaenoic Acid, and ALA - Alpha-Linolenic acid) and the health benefits associated with each type. Therefore, one of the underlying objectives of the media campaign was to educate consumers that only fish oil provides both EPA and DHA - essential nutrients vital for overall good health. And that ALA, from plant sources, converts very inefficiently (less than 1%) to EPA and DHA so that is not enough to provide any of the health benefits associated with Omega-3.

"American Airlines has over 29,000 flights per month so we saw this as an opportunity to reach a wide range of travelers worldwide through their talk station. We're really pleased to have Dr. Sears work with us on this project." continued Lori Covert, VP Marketing and Communications, "He's very passionate about Omega-3 EPA and DHA's health benefits for the whole family, and particularly for children. In fact, Dr. Sears is so passionate he's launched a line of Omega-3 products, including GoFish Brainy Kidz Chews and Popumz a line of organic multi-grain crisps made with our MEG-3(R) fish oil."

"Omega-3 EPA/DHA from fish oil provides unlimited health benefits for the entire family. It's really important for consumers to pay attention to the type of Omega-3 they're choosing. Products containing ALA do not provide the health benefits of Omega-3 EPA/DHA due to the extremely low conversion rate. Dr. Sears continued, "Consumers should look for the little blue fish, MEG-3(R) on the package to ensure they're getting the abundant health benefits of Omega-3."

About Ocean Nutrition Canada Limited (ONC):

Ocean Nutrition Canada (ONC) is a privately held company, whose major shareholder is Clearwater Fine Foods Incorporated. Clearwater Fine Foods Incorporated is a diversified holding/investment company whose significant holdings include a controlling interest in Clearwater Seafood's Limited Partnership, the world's largest integrated shellfish harvester and processor.

ONC is a global leading supplier of Omega-3 EPA and DHA ingredients from fish oil...essential nutrients that have been scientifically linked to supporting heart health, brain health, and general wellness. ONC markets its MEG-3(R) ingredients into the Dietary Supplement and Healthy Food markets. To date MEG-3(R) ingredients have been included in over 40 billion servings of food and supplement products world wide. For more information on Ocean Nutrition Canada Limited visit www.ocean-nutrition.com, and for more information on the health benefits of MEG-3(R) ingredients please visit www.meg-3.com.

About Dr. William Sears:

Dr. Sears, or Dr. Bill as his "little patients" call him, is the father of eight children, three of whom are doctors (two pediatricians and one general practitioner). Dr. Sears is also the author of over 40 books on childcare, most notably The Baby Book considered by many to be the ultimate "how to" guide to raising your child. Dr. Bill received his pediatric training at Harvard Medical School's Children's Hospital in Boston and The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto - the largest children's hospital in the world, where he served as Associate Ward Chief of the newborn nursery and Associate Professor of Pediatrics. Dr. Sears is a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics (FAAP) and a Fellow of the Royal College of Pediatricians (FRCP). Dr. Bill is also a medical and parenting consultant for BabyTalk and Parenting magazines. Visit Dr. Sears' website, www.AskDrSears.com to learn more.

SOURCE Ocean Nutrition Canada Ltd.

Source: PR Newswire

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