MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Want to buy fish rich in Omega 3? Try your nearest Austrian chemist

The Austrian pilot programme has been expanded to 15 chemist shops starting Monday

Austrian chemists will commence selling fish in order to raise awareness of the health benefits of a diet rich in Omega 3 fatty acids. As of this Monday, the clients of 15 shops of the Central European country will be able to buy fish along with the typical medications.

The initiative follows the positive acceptance observed during a pilot test carried out in a chemist’s in the Judenburg locality, in the Estiria region.

Under the programme, a type of smoked Arctic char will be sold, recommended especially for its high Omega 3 fatty acid index, which promotes cardiovascular health.

According to Valerie Odelga, proprietor of the chemist’s where the pilot test was conducted, “everything that has to do with health can be sold at a chemist’s and more so if it serves to prevent problems.”

“We sold out the first day,” said an employee to newspaper Kleine Zeitung.

The product is not cheap: each kilogram of smoked Arctic char costs 99 Euros, and each fillet, 8 Euros.

Many clients take this type of fatty acid in pill-form or via formulations, the chemists emphasised. According to Spanish news agencies chemist’s management will attend a company course on the best way to cut fish, which will be presented by the firm that distributes the fish.

The Austrian company that supplied the fish to the chemist’s, Soravia, plans to expand the initiative to northern Italy and Slovenia next year. (FIS/MP).-