Sources of omega-3
The Heart Foundation recommends all Australians should aim to include 2–3
serves of fish (including oily fish) per week as part of a heart healthy diet. This
provides around 250–500 milligrams of marine-sourced omega-3s (EPA and DHA)
per day. In addition, the Heart Foundation recommends that all Australians should
aim for 1 gram of plant-sourced omega-3 (ALA) each day.
Sources of marine-based omega-3s (EPA, DHA)
The following is a guide to the amount of marine-sourced omega-3s
in fish and seafood commonly available in Australia.
EPA and DHA (mg) Fresh fish and seafood, 150 g serve
Mullet
Atlantic salmon
Mackerel
Australian salmon
> 500 mg Sardine
Serving tips Silver perch
Rainbow trout
Trevalla – place your grilled
Morwong
fish on a wholegrain bun,
Bream
complete with salad.
Yellow-tail kingfish
400–500 mg Australian herring
Trevally
EPA and DHA (mg) Fresh fish and seafood, 150 g serve
Serving tips
Snapper
Flathead – steam with Flounder
ginger, garlic, shallots and Mirror dory
little sesame oil. Jack mackerel
300–400 mg
Blue-spotted goatfish
Small-spotted herring
Blue-eye trevalla
Tuna
Australian bass
King Dory
Wrasse
John Dory
Blue morwong
Coral trout
Blue grenadier (Hoki)
Golden perch
Brownband snapper
Ocean jacket
Leatherjacket
200–300 mg Murray cod
Hussar
Garfish: eastern sea, southern,
snub-nosed, river
Barramundi
Dhufish
Mangrove Jack
King George whiting
Smoked cod
Flathead: deep water, southern sand, tiger
Saddletail snapper
Jackass morwong
< 200 mg/serve Whiting
EPA and DHA (mg) Canned fish, 100 g serve
Serving tips
Canned sardines
> 1500 mg
Sardines – mash in a bowl Canned salmon (some varieties)
with a little vinegar, serve on Canned salmon (some varieties)
toast with sliced tomato and Canned tuna
cracked pepper. Smoked mussels
500–1500 mg
Anchovies
Atlantic pickled herring
Smoked oysters
300–500 mg Flavoured salmon and tuna
Notes
Frozen fish has not been included in this list, but some varieties are high in omega-3s. Check the information on the product
packet in your supermarket.
EPA and DHA (mg) Seafood, 100 g serve
Green mussels
500–1000 mg
Blue mussels
Squid or calamari
300–500 mg
Oyster, raw
Scallops
Prawn
Octopus
< 300 mg
Crab
Lobster or crayfish
Moreton bay bug
Sources of plant-based omega-3s (ALA)
The following is a guide to the amount of plant-sourced omega-3s in
commonly consumed foods in Australia.
Food group Food Serving size ALA mg/serve
Nuts and Walnuts 30 g 1,884
Serving tips seeds Pecan nuts 30 g 186
Hazelnuts 30 g 36
Include a handful of nuts
every day to boost good fat Tahini 30 g 36
(including ALA) intake. Chia seeds 15 g 2,685
Flaxseeds or 1 tsp (4 g) 922
linseeds
Fats and oils Canola oil 1 tbs (20 g) 1,820
Soybean oil 1 tbs (20 g) 1,434
Vegetable oil 1 tbs (20 g) 1,458
Olive oil 1 tbs (20 g) 92
Flaxseed/linseed 1 tbs (20 g) 10,918
oil
Margarine 1 tbs (20 g) 282
spread, regular
polyunsaturated
Margarine 1 tbs (20 g) 970
spread, regular
monounsaturated
Dairy blend, 1 tbs (20 g) 662
butter and edible
oil spread
Butter 1 tbs (20 g) 76
Corn or maize oil 1 tbs (20 g) 152
Peanut oil 1 tbs (20 g) 58
Dressings, oil 1 tbs (20 g) 128
and vinegar
Dressings, 1 tbs (20 g) 18
creamy, 97% fat
free
Additional sources of ALA
The following is a guide to the amount of ALA in commonly
consumed foods in Australia.
Food group Food Serving size ALA mg/serve
Dairy Cheddar cheese 40 g 112
products Cheddar cheese, 40 g 72
reduced fat
Cottage cheese 40 g 28
Meat, eggs Lamb, lean 100 g 99
and poultry Beef, lean 100 g 31
Chicken breast, 100 g 10
no skin
Eggs 2 eggs (60 g 72
each)
Omega-3 2 eggs (60 g 240
enriched eggs each)
Breads and Bread, soy and 2 slices (80 g) 2,480
cereals linseed
Bread, 2 slices (56 g) 62
wholemeal
Wheat breakfast 2 biscuits (30 g) 24
biscuits
References
Omega-3 levels are based on data obtained predominantly from Food Standards Australia New Zealand (2014). AUSNUT 2011–13 –
Australian Food Composition Database. Available at: www.foodstandards.gov.au. Accessed 1 July 2014.
Some information is also sourced from Mooney B, Nichols P, Elliott N. Seafood the good food II: the oil content and composition of
Australian commercial finfish, shellfishes and factors affecting edible species. Melbourne: CSIRO, 2002.
© 2015 National Heart Foundation of Australia ABN 98 008 419 761
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consult your healthcare provider if you have, or suspect you have, a health problem. The health information provided has been developed by the Heart
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