Exploring solutions for healthy, safe, and sustainable fatty acids (EPA and DHA) consumption in The Netherlands

Abstract

Advisory bodies such as the World Health Organization and the Dutch Health Council (DHC) recommend including fatty fish in one’s diet, based on the health benefits of their content of n − 3 poly unsaturated fatty acids (eicosapentaenoic acid—EPA and docosahexaenoic acid—DHA) being, i.e., the reduction of the risk of fatal cardio vascular disease and stroke. These dietary advices on these fatty acids’ (e.g., fatty fish) consumption are only based on the expected health benefits. But what would a dietary advice look like when the health benefits were weighed up against relevant sustainability and food safety considerations? The aim of the current study was to explore the consequences for safety, health, and sustainability of solutions to meet the DHC’s recommendation on EPA/DHA consumption. To this end, first, the health, food safety, and sustainability perspectives of the current fish production and consumption, being the main source of EPA/DHA, were identified. Second, alternative diet scenarios, meeting the daily advised intake of EPA/DHA, were collected and subsequently judged on their health, safety and (environmental) sustainability characteristics. To enable structuring the process of finding solutions for such complex problems, a specific framework was applied: solution-focused sustainability assessment. Based on stakeholder consultation, three scenarios were assessed: higher production and consumption of fatty fish (here: farmed salmon); increased human use of by-catch and discards; and increased consumption of alternative EPA/DHA sources (here: walnuts). It appeared that only in the scenario of increased use of by-catch and discards, the effects on human health and the environment and resources coincide, whereas in the other two scenarios, the positive health effects are expected to result in one or more negative effects on the environment. Besides, increased fish consumption causes more food safety problems; however, if one changes his/her diet and replaces meat by fish, this will lead to a net higher food safety. The analysis shows the sustainability limits of increased production and consumption of fatty fish and alternative EPA/DHA sources. This can support policy makers in setting goals and deciding on measures to encourage healthy and environmentally sustainable fish (i.e., EPA/DHA) consumption. Furthermore, this study shows in general the impact a policy initiative focusing on health aspects only can have on other aspects, such as environment and food safety. It emphasizes the added value of integrative assessments, which cover multiple effects when designing new sustainable policies.