Symposium Synopsis
The 8th Annual State of the Science Symposium hosted by SNP’s Scientific Nutrition Advisory Council was held on September 26, 2024, at the Ronald Reagan International Trade Center in Washington, D.C. This annual event provides a forum for global leaders in human nutrition to outline the latest consensus on seafood nutrition.
Thank you to the sponsors for making this symposium possible:
- Presenting Sponsors: Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute, National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, NOAA Fisheries
- Gold Sponsors: Cargill, StarKist
- Silver Sponsors: Chilean Salmon Marketing Council, DSM-Firmenich, GOED Omega-3
- Bronze Sponsor: Pacific Seafood Processors Association
The 2024 Science Symposium theme was Make Every Day Count.
- The morning session focused on seafood nutrition science and human health (Video Link)
- The afternoon session focused on consumer outreach (Video Link)
As background, the USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend seafood consumption of at least twice a week for the general population and two to three times a week for expectant moms. Unfortunately, approximately 90% of Americans do not follow these guidelines and are missing the health and nutritional benefits from seafood.
One of the key nutrients found in seafood is omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), which are essential building blocks of the human brain, eyes, and male testes. At the 2024 State of the Science Symposium, the latest consensus on seafood nutrition science highlighted:
- Potential of increased male reproductive virility with increased consumption of seafood derived omega-3 DHA.
- New consensus clinical practice guidelines to reduce risk of preterm births by up to 66% for expectant moms and up to 75% for African American expectant moms.
- Supplementation of all those who are pregnant with effective levels of omega-3 DHA would translate to a net savings per year of $8 billion per year.
- The science on seafood nutrition is extremely strong.
- Ocean fish is rich in selenium, a required nutrient that supports brain function while also detoxifying mercury from all dietary sources.
- Moms who eat more than 12 ounces of seafood per week have babies with higher IQ, by 6 IQ points.
- SNP’s Fall In Love With Seafood consumer campaign is working. For each $1 invested, the campaign returned $4 in incremental seafood sales.
- Salmon (and other seafood species) can be raised on land in Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS) and can be located anywhere geographically.
- There’s seafood that the whole family would like. Whatever is important to you, seafood can fit in? Health, Planet, Social.
- Make Every Day Count!
Here are the key takeaways from the expert presentations with links to the videos on SNP’s YouTube channel.
Seafood and Reproductive Health, From Eye Health to Faster Swimmers (Video Link)
Dr. Martin-Paul Agbaga
University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
Departments of Cell Biology and Ophthalmology
- Fish oil derived Very Long Chain – Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids (VLC-PUFA) are critical to eye and reproductive health.
- There is significant decrease in total sperm count in the past four decades.
- Omega-3 DHA-enriched fish oil supplementation increased VLC-PUFA and total testosterone levels, and improve fertility in males.
- Need to improved seafood nutrition to return our neuronal and reproductive tissue essential fatty acid levels to their physiological levels to improve health and perpetuate the species.
New Consensus Clinical Practice Guidelines to Reduce Risk of Preterm Births (Video Link)
Dr. Susan E. Carlson
University of Kansas Medical Center
- The March of Dimes gives the US a D+ for preterm births (PTB).
- 1 in 10 babies in the US is a PTB, but 14.8% of Non-Hispanic Black women have a PTB Most Black women appear to need high dose Omega-3 DHA to reduce PTB.
- New consensus statements published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology – Maternal Fetal Medicine outlines intakes of omega-3s EPA+DHA to reduce risk of PTB https://www.ajogmfm.org/article/S2589-9333(23)00393-2/fulltext
- Low consumers provided 600-1000mg/day of omega-3s EPA+DHA from seafood, fish oil, algal oil could reduce risk of the earliest PTB by 2/3rds.
- Adopting these guidelines could save the US more than $8B/year in healthcare costs.
- We need to get this information to expectant moms in the US to give all babies a healthy start to life!
Health Economic Impact of Reducing the Incidence of Preterm & Early Preterm Birth in the U.S. with Supplemental Algal DHA (Video Link)
Dr. Jim Richards, Head, Nutrition Science and Advocacy
DSM-Firmenich
- Preterm and especially early preterm birth (PTB) are leading causes of infant mortality and increase the risk of disabilities such as cerebral palsy, intellectual and developmental disabilities, autism, and asthma.
- The U.S. preterm birth rate has increased substantially since 2014. Currently, more than one in ten infants is born preterm. Of these, about one in four is born early preterm.
- There is a pronounced racial and ethnic disparity in rates of PTB and early PTB, with increased rates in several groups (Black, American Indian & Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander, Hispanic) compared to non-Hispanic White and Asian populations.
- Preterm birth is estimated to have cost the U.S. over $34 billion in 2021. Almost $23 billion was associated with early preterm births.
- Supplementation of all those who are pregnant with effective levels of DHA is predicted to reduce the number of preterm births by over 40,000 per year, including a reduction of over 32,000 early preterm births per year.
- This would translate to a net savings per year of $8 billion per year, about 2/3 of which would be realized in reduced hospital/NICU costs over the first 6 months after birth.
How Strong Is The Science On Seafood Nutrition? (Video Link)
Dr. Tom Brenna, SNP SNAC Chair; Professor, Dell Medical School, UT at Austin
Dr. Joseph Hibbeln, Nutritional Psychiatrist, Former Acting Chief at NIH NIAAA
Dr. Nick Ralston, Director at Sage Green NRG
Mr. Phil Spiller, Former Director of Seafood at FDA
- The science on seafood nutrition is extremely strong.
- Expectant moms and their babies benefit from eating seafood regularly.
- Ocean fish is rich in selenium, a required nutrient that supports brain function while also detoxifying mercury from all dietary sources.
- Moms who eat more than 12 ounces of seafood per week have babies with higher IQ, by 6 IQ points.
Fall in Love with Seafood (Video Link)
Ms. Sarah Crowley, VP of Marketing & Communications, Seafood Nutrition Partnership
- In 2024, FILWS campaign seen over 60 million times!
- Five retail partners = 2,600+ grocery stores
- Strong Results to Date: Campaigns generated average $4 ROI
- For each $1 invested, campaign returned $4 in incremental seafood sales
- 3.5% click-thru rate on social media, over 2x the industry average (1.5%)
- 175,000+ consumer engagements – clicks, likes, shares, comments…etc.
- Over 1/3rd of engagements from consumers aged 18-34
Overview of Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS) & Raising High Omega-3 Fish (Video Link)
Dr. Steven Summerfelt, Chief Science Officer, Superior Fresh LLC
- Eating seafood provides EPA & DHA for health
- Salmon is a great choice to increase your seafood intake and omega-3s. Salmon is #1 fish consumed in the USA
- Salmon can be raised on land in RAS and can be located anywhere geographically
- Eating seafood caught & raised in the USA reduces airfreight & food miles from harvest to plate
- Raising salmon on land in freshwater: Captures waste; Supports nutrient recycling and regenerative agriculture; Excludes obligate fish pathogens & parasites. Avoids antibiotics and pesticides
Science Says Eat More Seafood, Why & How? (Video Link)
Ms. Linda Cornish, President of the Seafood Nutrition Partnership
Mr. John Burrows, Seafood Technical Director, Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute
Mr. Jason Driskill, VP of Seafood, Sushi, Meal Simple, H-E-B; SNP Vice Chair
Ms. Mondonna Khan, Head, Regulatory Affairs & Nutrition, StarKist
- Look and ask for great seafood options at your grocery stores, restaurants, schools, military, hospitals, sports arenas, work
- There’s seafood that the whole family would like. Add seafood to a favorite meal.
- Buy seafood in bulk, seasonal, promotions
- Think no-cook to air fryer seafood recipes
- Whatever is important to you, seafood can fit in? Health, Planet, Social.