Brands Of Fish Oil Contain High Levels Of PCB's

Fish oil contains omega 3 fatty acids which is believed to be a major health benefit. However, a recent test conducted by The Mateel Group revealed that certain brands contained very high levels of PCB’s ( polychlorinated biphenyl )- manmade industrial chemicals that were banned back in the 1970s because they cause cancer and birth defects. These findings along with a lawsuit against six supplement companies and two retailers has shaken the multi-million dollar supplement market.

The Mateel Group, along with two citizen environmentalists, filed a lawsuit against eight supplement companies for alleged violations against proposition 65, which requires that consumers be warned about chemical exposures to PCB’s through proper labeling. Tests concluded that three of the ten supplement brands contained much more than 90 nanograms of the carcinogen. This is above the limit that people should be exposed to, according to California Law. The three a supplement companies are as follow: Nature Made Cod Liver Oil, Now Foods' Salmon Oil & Double Strength Cod Liver Oil.

Defendants include the world's largest producer of omega-3 fish oil, Houston-based Omega Protein, as well as drug stores Rite Aid Corp and CVS Caremark Corp. Other defendants include" General Nutrition Corp, a subsidiary of GNC Acquisition Holdings Corp, Now Health Group Inc, Pharmavite LLC, the maker of the NatureMade brand of supplements, Solgar Inc and TwinLab Corp. All of the following manufacturers are said to be in violation of Proposition 65 for not disclosing any non-zero PCB levels in their products.

A guide to select quality fish oil:

• Look for a brand that is both "pharmaceutical grade" and "molecularly distilled." This will ensure the product is free of impurities such as mercury, PCBs and other contaminants.

“Pharmaceutical grade” fish oil is the highest level of purity a product can have. This means the ingredients in the fish oil are over 99% pure, with no binders, fillers, dyes, or unknown substances.

“Molecular distillation” is a purification method which is conducted in vacuum. It is the only process that can effectively remove metals, PCBs and other harmful toxins to a level that is perfectly safe for human consumption.

• Ensue the product has been tested by a third party
• Look for low oxidation levels

Vegetarian options: (* indicates highest traces of Omega 3)

• English walnuts

• Flax oil*

• Flax seed (ground)*

• Hemp Milk/Beverages

• Hemp oil*

• Hemp seed / hemp nut (ground)*

• Olive oil

• Leafy green vegetables (small amounts, but a good omega-3 to omega-6 ratio)

• Pumpkin seeds

• Soybeans