Seal meat facts for kids
Seal meat is the meat, fat (called blubber), and organs from seals. People and animals eat it as food. It can be prepared in many ways. Often, it is hung up and dried before it is eaten. For a long time, people around the world have eaten seal meat as part of their regular meals or to survive.
Contents
Where People Eat Seal Meat Today
Today, people still eat seal meat in several places around the world. These include Japan, Norway, Iceland, and the Faroe Islands. Many Inuit and other native groups in the United States, Canada, and Greenland also eat it. The Chukchi people in Siberia and people on Bequia Island in the Caribbean Sea also include seal meat in their diet.
What's in Seal Meat?
| Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz) | |
|---|---|
|
3.2g
|
|
| Saturated | .820g |
| Monounsaturated | 1.720g |
| Polyunsaturated | 0.060g |
|
Protein
|
28.4 g
|
| Vitamins | Quantity
%DV†
|
| Vitamin A equiv. |
15%
116 μg |
| Thiamine (B1) |
87%
1 mg |
| Riboflavin (B2) |
44%
0.530 mg |
| Pantothenic acid (B5) |
13%
0.650 mg |
| Minerals | Quantity
%DV†
|
| Calcium |
1%
5 mg |
| Iron |
151%
19.60 mg |
| Phosphorus |
34%
238 mg |
| Sodium |
7%
110 mg |
| †Percentages estimated using US recommendations for adults. | |
Scientists have studied seal blubber and meat to learn about their nutrients. Researchers from the University of Bergen and the National Institute of Nutrition and Seafood Research looked at two types of seals. These were the hooded seal and the harp seal. The seals in the study came from an area near Greenland called the West Ice.
Healthy Fats and Protein
Seal meat is generally lean, meaning it has less than 2% fat. Most of this fat is healthy fat, like omega-3 fatty acids. These are good for your body. The meat also has a lot of protein. It contains a good balance of amino acids, which are the building blocks of protein.
Important Vitamins and Minerals
The study showed that the amount of nutrients could be different from one seal to another. This might be because the seals were different ages and sizes. Overall, both the meat and blubber are very good sources of nutrients. For example, just 40 grams of seal meat can give a woman all the vitamin B12 and iron she needs for a day.
There was a big difference in a type of omega-3 fat called EPA between the two seal types. Harp seal blubber had 9.2% EPA, but its muscle meat only had 3%.
Seal meat also contains high levels of important minerals. Hooded seal muscle meat had a lot of iron (379 micrograms per gram). Harp seal muscle meat had a good amount of zinc (30 micrograms per gram).
