05.01.05
Environmental Defense, New York, NY, recently released the results of its fish oil supplement survey, which determined the best and worst choices based on company responses concerning removal of environmental contaminants. More than two-thirds of the companies contacted comply with the strictest standards, which the organization considered encouraging since consumers are increasingly taking fish oil supplements. Environmental Defense surveyed 54 major producers and suppliers of fish oil supplements in the U.S. to see if and how they are addressing health risks from environmental contaminants. It evaluated standards from a number of U.S. and foreign government agencies. Since the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and State of California (Proposition 65) limits were the most protective of human health, it used these standards as the survey’s baseline. More than two-thirds (37) of the 54 companies contacted verified that they met the strictest U.S. standards for contaminants. These companies use highly effective purification processes like molecular distillation and steam deodorization to separate pollutants from the beneficial omega 3 fatty acids. Nine companies’ responses were incomplete and eight companies did not respond.