A few months ago, we upgraded our Omega 3 fish oil and pushed it to the absolute top-level, not only quality-wise but also when it comes to sustainability and transparency. Have you ever wondered where our fish oil comes from? Let us take you on a little trip! 

What fish is used?

We exclusively use Alaskan Pollock, which is sustainably caught in the clean arctic Bering sea where the fishery has a 37-year record of sustainable fishery management. The Alaskan Pollock fish stock has shown an increase of 65% in biomass, according to 2014 NOAA assessment and is caught with selective mid-water, pelagic trawl (not destructive demersal bottom trawl fishing practices which destroy the floor bed of the sea).

What happens then?

Within hours of catch, the wild-caught Alaskan Pollock are hand-sorted and processed to ensure maximum freshness and the lowest possible totox value. 

So, what is this totox value that we are talking about?

Totox is an important measure of an oil´s oxidation level. Have you ever smelled or even tasted a rancid oil? It´s really disgusting, that´s why freshness is key! Omega-3 oils are extremely sensitive to oxygen, heat, and light – before you decide to buy a fish oil product, make sure how low the totox is -> lower totox=fresher oil and your benefit is that you get a longer product stability ratio, better taste, and smell and of course you avoid those nasty fish burps. Keep in mind not to buy fish oil from manufacturers that mask their bad totox values with masking agents. Often even artificial flavor is used. Most commonly used masking agents are caramel, citron or vanilla.

 

 

MSC Marina Stewardship Council:

Our fish oil is awarded to carry the prestigious ecolabel certification from the Marina Stewardship council for sustainability (ultra-low bycatch and non-target species <1%).

The MSC has developed standards for sustainable fishing and seafood traceability to keep resources for following generations but also biodiversity in the sea high.

What else is important?

• The form of the fish oil?

Always make sure the Omega 3 fatty acids come in triglycerides form and not in ethyl esters form, which is not found in nature and absorption is poor compared to triglyceride form

• What are the capsules made from?

Many companies’ ads color or flavor to their fish oil, the reason behind this could be that they want to mask the bad smell of rancid fish oil. Always make sure you use a product with low oxidation level (totox), to avoid the disgusting surprise your body will give you when you have had a few rancid fish oil capsules. Avoid bovine gelatin (most of the time the label only says “gelatin”) since it´s just waste from the slaughterhouse and nothing you want to ingest unnecessarily.

• Amount of Omega3

Many products highlight the high amount of total Omega 3 fatty acids, but only contain little, if any, EPA and DHA and look cheap on the first view– the most important types of Omega 3. Always make sure your product has a high EPH/DHA ratio per single capsules

• Quality

Try to buy fish oil products which have either the GOED standard for purity or a third-party certification – a serious producer will send you test certification on heavy metals or other pollutants on request!

• Sustainability

Finally – be smart and only consume products which are certified by the MSC and carry the official label to help save the planet and the diversity of species, please don´t buy products from waste or the farmed salmon industry or made from fish, who could become endangered soon such as Anchovies or Sardines. Long story short – if you watch these points, you will get one of the most beneficial supplements for your body, so choose wisely and be safe!