GOED slams Labdoor’s report questioning fish oil supplements’ freshness and purity

21 Jan 2022 --- GOED, which represents the global EPA and DHA omega 3 industry, is defending the quality of fish oil supplements. This is in response to an analysis from Labdoor – an independent supplement testing company – that uncovered swathes of US offerings have inaccurate labels, measurable amounts of mercury and oxidation issues.

Notably, Labdoor’s analysis of the 54 best-selling fish oil supplements in the US found that all varieties recorded measurable levels of oxidation, which is a key signifier of freshness. Furthermore, 15 out of 54 products recorded peroxide levels – a measure of primary oxidation – at or above the upper limit. 

However, Ellen Schutt, executive director of GOED, tells NutritionInsight that the omega 3 industry has done a good job handling oxidation issues in its oils.

“We acknowledge that there are still improvements to be made, and we encourage brands and contract manufacturers to follow our best practice guidelines to be sure you are handling these very sensitive oils properly during processing.” 

She also emphasizes that there are no safety issues associated with consuming oxidized oil.

Labdoor measured each oil’s freshness by the degree of oxidation.

A mixed picture of product purity
Also of note in Labdoor’s findings is that all but four supplements contained measurable amounts of methylmercury, with the category averaging 2.4 parts per billion (PPB) of mercury. Additionally, three products recorded 50% or greater of the allowable methylmercury content per serving.

Labdoor further reports that inactive ingredients also contribute to product safety. One product contained benzoic acid, a popular antibacterial agent linked to carcinogenic risks when combined with vitamin C. 

Other potentially controversial excipients included the artificial coloring agents FD&C Blue 1 and FD&C Red 40, as well as the whitening agent titanium dioxide, which has now been banned in the EU.

However, total polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) content was measured in every product. Production of the industrial chemicals has been banned in the US since 1979 due to concerns about human and environmental health. 

All product recorded PCB levels within the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)’s 2 PPM limit for the edible parts of fish and shellfish, as well as the stricter standards enacted by California’s Proposition 65, which requires products containing greater than 0.09 PPM of PCB content to bear a cancer warning.

Labels don’t reflect contents
Labdoor also measured label accuracy, finding that EPA and DHA content ranged from -25.3% to +32.7% versus its products’ stated label claims.

Total omega 3 content varied by an average of 27.6% versus the stated label claims, compared to a 27.4% average variance in EPA content and a 20.2% average variance in DHA content.

Some brands also failed to disclose EPA and DHA content on their product labels. The highest-ranking product for label accuracy is Viva Naturals Triple Strength Omega-3 Fish Oil.

It recorded just a 2% variance in total omega 3 content and measured within 3.5% of its EPA claim and within 0.4% of its DHA claim.

Overall, 32 out of 54 products demonstrated omega 3 levels that varied by over 10% from their label claims. Eighteen of these further recorded a 25% variance between actual versus claimed content. 

Inaccurate labels are a significant risk for the supplement industry, exacerbated by waning consumer trust. More than half of the products demonstrated omega 3 levels that varied by over 10% from their label claims. 

This is impacting other sectors, with testing on turmeric, coenzyme Q10 and S-adenosylmethionine also revealing discrepancies. 

Balancing EPA and DHA
The analysis found that non-softgel fish oil supplements contained far lower concentrations of EPA and DHA content, likely due to the addition of inactive ingredients like fillers and sweeteners.

Products recorded an average of 17 calories per serving, ranging from 0 to 45 calories per serving. Average EPA and DHA concentration was measured at 47%, ranging from 2 to 97% in the products tested in this study.

The average fish oil supplement serving contained 473.3 mg of EPA and 243.1 mg of DHA. These fatty acids play different roles in the body, such as for sleep and immune system regulation, for example. 

However, last May, a study suggested that DHA may blunt the cardiovascular benefits of EPA. 

In August, an industry roundtable also spotlighted how the rise of lesser-known fatty acid ingredients is creating new applications beyond heart health, like sports nutrition and immunity. 

By Katherine Durrell