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Product Review: Fish Oil/Omega-3 Supplements and EPA/DHA Fortified Foods & Beverages |
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How Products were Selected:
Products were selected to represent those commonly sold and/or available nationally in the U.S. ConsumerLab.com purchased products on the open market through retail stores, on-line retailers, and direct sales or multi-level marketing companies. Products were not accepted directly from manufacturers.
Testing Method:
Omega-3 marine oil capsules and liquids were tested for amounts of EPA, DHA and other omega-3 fatty acids, freshness (peroxide value, anisidine value, and TOTOX) and potential contamination with mercury, lead, and PCBs. Omega-3 fortified foods and beverages were tested for amounts of EPA, DHA and other omega-3 fatty acids, and potential contamination with mercury and lead. All products were assessed in independent laboratories using the following methods: for EPA and DHA components by gas chromatography utilizing a modified AOAC method (Association of Official Analytical Chemists, International; Official Method 991.39); for peroxide value using AOCS method (American Oil Chemists Society; Method CD 8-53 or similar); for anisidine value using AOCS method (Method CD 18-90 or similar); for mercury using a Cold Vapor Atomic Absorption method; for PCBs using High Resolution Gas Chromatography coupled with High Resolution Mass Spectrometry (EPA Method 1668A); and for lead using ICP-MS (Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectroscopy). Products not passing the initial assay for EPA and DHA, peroxide value, anisidine value, TOTOX and/or mercury or lead were tested in another independent laboratory utilizing a similar method.
Several products tested through the Voluntary Certification Program were also tested, at the special request of their manufacturers, for dioxin contamination. Dioxin testing was performed using EPA method 1663B. The identities of the products were not disclosed to the laboratories performing the testing.
The identities of the products were not disclosed to the laboratories performing the testing.
Passing Score: *
To achieve a "Pass" in the testing a product must meet the following criteria:
- Contain 100% and not exceed 150% of the claimed amounts of omega-3 fatty acids, EPA and DHA;
- Have a peroxide value (PV) of no more than 5 meq/kg, an anisidine value (AV) of no more than 20, and a TOTOX value of no more than 26 (calculated as (2 x PV) + AV) (GOED Monograph Recommendation);
- Contain less than 0.1 ppm of mercury (GOED Monograph Recommendation);
- Contain less than 0.09 mg/kg (ppm) of Total PCBs (sum of four non-ortho PCBs and eight mono-ortho PCBs). (GOED Monograph Recommendation);
- Conform to the State of California Proposition 65 limits on lead contamination in the recommended daily serving of a supplement and, in no event, exceed 2 mcg of lead in a daily serving.
- If tested for dioxins (sum of 17 individual dioxin congeners), contain no more than 2 TEF/g (expressed in World Health Organization (WHO) toxic equivalents as WHO-toxic equivalent factors (TEFs). (GOED Monograph Recommendation)
A "Pass" was based on meeting the above criteria in either the first or second rounds of testing.
* Passing scores allow for specific margins of technical error associated with each analysis. ConsumerLab.com reserves the right to disqualify a product at any time from passing its testing if it considers such product to present a safety risk or to provide misleading or inaccurate information in its labeling.
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