New omega-3 enriched chicken from Waitrose and Moy Park

Top UK retailer Waitrose has launched the first chicken products naturally enriched with omega-3 with the help of Moy Park and Devenish Nutrition, two of Northern Ireland's most successful and innovative food businesses.

Waitrose used chicken specially produced by leading international poultry processor Moy Park, Northern Ireland's biggest food business, along with Devenish Nutrition, a international leader in animal nutrition.

Moy Park, a £1.4 billion business, is based at Craigavon in county Armagh while Devenish Nutrition is located in Belfast and operates worldwide.

Moy Park feeds the chickens on a special diet containing algae that is naturally high in omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids to help maintain normal heart, brain and vision functions developed in association with Devenish.

Waitrose has launched a range of products such as whole chickens, breast fillets and thigh meat, priced at £3.59p per kilo. Waitrose says the new products are a response to concerns among consumers not getting enough omega-3 in their diets because of a dislike of oily fish. This is a particular concern in regard to children and young people.

Waitrose says the 10-strong range of chicken is the result of research over a decade and work with Moy Park and Devenish to develop omega-3 poultry products. Trials had found that those who consume the enriched chicken products had higher levels of omega-3.

Waitrose agricultural director Heather Jenkins adds: "Our research is indicating that this nutritional breakthrough has the potential to have a significant impact on health. What's also exciting is that it's improving the nutritional content of a product that customers already consume as part of their normal diets."

The new products have been welcomed by food experts.

Professor Chris Elliott, Pro Vice Chancellor, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences, at Queen's University Belfast, says, "It's costing £10 billion a year to deal with problems of heart disease in the UK. Having a source of omega 3 in our diet has the potential for healthier hearts."

Professor Patrick Wall, Professor of Public Health, University College Dublin, adds, "This is actually going to revolutionise nutrition. The idea that you can make an everyday product healthier suggests you could have a huge impact on health."

Dr Joanne Lunn, Waitrose Nutritionist, says, "This chicken will make a really useful contribution to our customers' omega 3 intake as we know it can be hard to consume enough omega 3 from other sources, especially if you are not a fan of fish."

Justin Coleman, Moy Park Agriculture Development Manager, continues, "Food and farming innovation are important focus areas for Moy Park and we are proud to be the first poultry company in the UK to produce chicken enriched with omega 3. Including omega 3 in the chickens' natural diet makes this already healthy food even healthier."

Initial trials have demonstrated that people eating enriched chicken for just five weeks have increased levels of Omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and see measurable effects on their cardiovascular health.

Initial testing was carried out on 30 healthy participants whose omega 3 levels were measured after one, three and five weeks of eating three servings per week of omega 3 enriched chicken meat. On average participants saw their levels of omega 3s increase by 12 per cent.