03.01.11
According to ConsumerLab.com, White Plains, NY, only 11 of 17 omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acid supplements made from seed oils met quality criteria for freshness and labeling. Among the six products that failed testing, two were marketed for pets. This particular review focused on supplements claiming to contain alpha-linoleic acid (ALA) or gamma-linolenic acid (GLA). Two products were found to be spoiled, as indicated by peroxide values above 10 meq/kg. One was a flaxseed oil supplement found to have a peroxide value of 68 meq/kg. The other was a pet product with flax and fish oil that had a peroxide value of 18 meq/kg and contained approximately 75% of its listed amounts of the omega 3 fatty acids EPA and DHA. A second pet product contained far more (573.5%) of its claimed amount of oleic acid—a monounsaturated omega 9 fatty acid. Two borage oil supplements contained less than their listed amounts of GLA or oleic acid. Some products did not properly label the type of oil from which they were made, which is an FDA requirement.