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Summary

  • What did ConsumerLab's tests of flaxseed show?

    Our tests revealed a concerning amount of cadmium, a toxic heavy metal, in several flaxseed products that contained up to 4 to 5 times as much cadmium as other products. Nutritionally, products were similar in terms of fats (oil), carbs, fiber, and protein — although amounts listed on two products were not accurate. None of the products had microbial contamination. (See What CL Found)
  • Why does the amount of cadmium vary across flaxseed products?

    This is likely affected by the flaxseed plant variety and the amount of cadmium in the soil. Unfortunately, we found nothing on labels (including geographic origin, brown versus golden color, whole versus ground seeds, or claims of being organic or non-GMO) or about product cost that would provide a reliable clue to the consumer as to how much cadmium is in a product.
  • Which is the best flaxseed product?

    Among the products that passed testing and were "Approved" for their quality, CL selected one as its Top Pick for whole flaxseed and two as Top Picks for ground flaxseed based on taste and cost.
  • What are the nutritional benefits of flaxseed?

    Flaxseeds are rich in fiber and healthy oils (particularly the omega-3 fatty acid ALA), and also provide some protein and small amounts of essential minerals, such as potassium, magnesium, calcium, and iron. (See What It Is)
  • Does eating flaxseed help with medical conditions?

    There is some evidence that flaxseed can help reduce blood sugar in diabetes, cholesterol, blood pressure, and symptoms of constipation. It may also have a weak estrogenic effect. (See What It Does)
  • What's the difference between flaxseed that is "ground," "milled," or sold as "meal"?

    Nothing, really. We found these terms to describe essentially the same thing: Flaxseed that has been ground to a fine or medium powder or meal. (See What CL Found)
  • Flaxseed safety and side effects:

    The high fiber content of flaxseed may cause some gastrointestinal side effects, and the seeds may cause allergic reactions in some people. (See Concerns and Cautions)
See our separate Review of Flaxseed and Other Seed Oil Supplements.

Make sure you're choosing the best whole flaxseeds, ground flaxseed or flaxseed meal approved in our tests!

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Whole, milled and ground flaxseeds and flaxseed meal products compared in this review

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365 Whole Flaxseed

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365 Whole Foods Market Organic Ground Flaxseed

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Arrowhead Mills Organic Flax Seeds

View Larger Image 8105_large_Barleans-Organic-Fortiflax-Flaxseed-2023.png

Barlean's Forti-Flax Premium Ground Flaxseed

View Larger Image 8112_large_BobsRedMill-Organic-WholeGoldenFlaxseed-Flaxseed-2023.png

Bob's Red Mill Whole Golden Flaxseed

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Bob's Red Mill Whole Ground Flaxseed Meal

View Larger Image 8107_large_CarringtonFarms-OrganicMilledFlax-Flaxseed-2023.png

Carrington Farms Organic Milled Flax Seeds

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Flackers Flax Seed Crackers - Sea Salt

View Larger Image 8108_large_GreatValue-GroundFlaxSeed-Flaxseed-2023.png

Great Value Ground Flax Seed

View Larger Image 8172_large_NutraSprout-Flaxseed-2023.png

NutraSprout Sprout Revolution Sprouted Ground Flax

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Premium Gold Whole Flaxseed

View Larger Image 8173_large_SimplyNature-Flaxseed-2023.png

Simply Nature Whole Flax Seeds

View Larger Image 8109_large_SpectrumEssentials-Flaxseed-2023.png

Spectrum Essentials Organic Ground Premium Flaxseed

View Larger Image 8111_large_TerrasoulSuperfoods-BrownFlaxSeeds-Flaxseed-2023.png

Terrasoul Superfoods Brown Flax Seeds

View Larger Image 8174_large_TerrasoulSuperfoods-Flaxseed-2023.png

Terrasoul Superfoods Golden Flax Seeds

View Larger Image 8110_large_TraderJoes-Organic-FlaxseedMeal-Flaxseed-2023.png

Trader Joe's Organic Flaxseed Meal

You must be a member to get the full test results along with ConsumerLab.com recommendations and quality ratings. You will get results for 16 flaxseed products (including whole flaxseeds, ground or milled flaxseeds, flaxseed meal and a flaxseed cracker) selected for testing by ConsumerLab.com. 

In this comprehensive review, you'll discover:
  • Which whole and ground flaxseed products failed our tests and which ones passed
  • CL's Top Pick among products as the best ground flaxseed based on quality, taste and price
  • The nutritional benefits of whole and ground flaxseeds, including amounts of protein, fat, and vitamins and minerals such as magnesium, potassium, iron, and zinc
  • Whether whole and ground flaxseeds are really a good source of omega-3s, including ALA, EPA and DHA
  • The evidence for and against flaxseeds for blood pressure and heart health
  • Which whole and ground flaxseed products are contaminated with heavy metals like cadmium
  • The best way to store flaxseeds and ground flaxseed products
  • Safety and other potential concerns with consuming flaxseeds

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Additional Information
Tested through CL's Quality Certification Program prior to, or after initial posting of this Product Review.