Omega-3 enriched cheddar makes children say cheese

The omega-3 fatty acids phenomenon has spread further into the dairy sector as Cricketer Farm launches an enriched cheese for children. The firm believes it is the first to have launched a kids' cheese with omega-3s from fish oils, as opposed to plant oils. "Others are working on developments with omega-3 in cheese, but we're the first to put our heads above the parapet," says sales and marketing manager Simon O'Brien. "We took the same enrichment route as St Ivel Advance. The battle was to get the fatty acids at the right levels."

Mega Cheddar is a mild cheddar cheese available in 23g sticks, each of which contains 20% of a child's recommended daily intake of omega-3.

"Each stick of our new Mega Cheddar is completely natural Cheddar cheese with no flavourings or colourings, made using only locally-sourced milk," says the firm.

The sticks are individually wrapped in a foil packet to maintain freshness and the brightly coloured packaging aims to appeal to both parents and children.

"Research into omega-3 has shown that it can aid brain development in children and by adding it to cheese, which is already a protein, and calcium-rich food, we have provided a product which has many potential health benefits for children," says O'Brien. "Most importantly the cheese is mild and creamy and children have given it a thumbs up in our trials," he added.