Algae is a far superior choice than fish oil as a source of Omega-3 for children for two main reasons:

1) Taste & smell

2) No risk of heavy metals

Also, anybody who is concerned about the future of our planet should be concerned about the impact of the commercial fishing industry on the oceans.

With our oceans currently being heavily overfished, combined with the world's growing population, fish is simply not a sustainable way to meeting the world's growing demand for omega-3.

Algae is the omega-3 source of the future, whether you're veggie, vegan or neither!

Our Omega-3 is not made using any of most common allergens including fish, wheat, gluten, crustaceans, eggs, nuts, soya, dairy and artificial flavourings and preservatives.

However our products are made in a facility that may handle these allergens.

Schizochytrium is a strain of algae found in coastal marine habitats and is naturally rich in Omega-3 DHA.

These algae are cultivated in a sterilised environment and then fermented in vats of purified water.

This not only prevents impacts to the natural ecosystem but also avoids the risk of any pollutants or contaminants from sea water.

During this process, the algae synthesise the DHA-rich oil which is then extracted using a solvent-free process.

The extracted oil is then treated and mixed with Vitamins E and C to prevent oxidation, after which it is ready to be mixed with MCT oil and then flavoured.

Obviously, there's a lot more to the process, but this provides a basic overview.

There is no official standard for how much Omega-3 we should get each day. However, most health organisations agree that 250–500 mg per day is sufficient to maintain good overall health for adults.

One such organisation is the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), who recommend the following minimum for children:

3-24 months:

- 100 mg DHA per day

2-18 years:

- 250 mg DHA or EPA per day

There is no doubt that fish oil has some health benefits, however, there are also well documented downsides. If you are considering buying a fish oil, here are a few things to bear in mind:

1) Many fish oils are cheap, but you should be aware of what you are paying for. These cheap fish oils are regularly of poor quality and contain relatively small dosages of DHA/EPA. They often have not been properly processed to remove heavy metals and toxins. You'll also find that they have a very strong "fishy" smell or taste. This is because the oil is starting to go rancid as the polyunsaturated fats start to go bad.

2) If you saw how fish oil is made, you probably wouldn't want to give it to your children! Fish scraps are mashed, steamed and squeezed to get the oil out before it goes through further processing.

3) Our seas are more polluted now than they have ever been. Fish often contain harmful levels of contaminants and toxins including heavy metals, PCBs and dioxins. High levels of these substances in your diet can have serious long-term health consequences.

4) There are major concerns about the impact of overfishing on world fish stocks. According to the United Nations, world fish stocks are expected to collapse by the year 2048 if current practices continue. Algae on the other hand, is fully sustainable and a great alternative to fish oil for vegans and non-vegans alike.

5) Fish is a highly inefficient way of getting Omega-3 in comparison to algae. Pound-for-pound, algae contains approximately twenty times the amount of Omega-3 as fish. In other words, for every 20 kilograms of fish taken out of the ocean, you'd only need 1 kilogram of algae to produce the same amount of Omega-3!

6) Fish oil tastes awful and is not something most children find palatable.

Our algae is grown in a closed system in purified water and not taken from the sea.

Not only does this mean that the algae is completely free of ocean-borne contaminants, it also doesn't disrupt the delicate marine eco-system.

If you have a question, we'd love to hear from you! You can contact us by clicking here. 

Alternatively, you can email us at hello@omvits.com