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likely in fish meat than in fish oil, but absent uniform testing, this is difficult to verify,
and the brutal truth is that unless government does it or requires it, sellers of fish are
unlikely to test for contaminants because of the cost of testing and the potential that
testing could make the fish unmarketable.
Berkeley Wellness minimizes concerns about contamination of fish oil: "Recent analyses
of fish oil supplements, including testing by ConsumerLab.com, did not find detectable
or significant levels of mercury or unsafe levels of PCBs, dioxins, or other contaminants,
in inexpensive as well as pricey brands. This is not surprising, since mercury tends to
accumulate in larger fish, and supplements are generally made from smaller species
(such as anchovies or sardines) or algae (which supply only DHA). Moreover, the
mercury in fish is water soluble and thus tends to accumulate in fish meat, not in the fat
or oil. Finally, most supplements are processed to reduce levels of PCBs and other
contaminants.... The slightly higher levels in a few products may unnecessarily
contribute to PCB exposure, but are unlikely to endanger human health."
- CHOICE OF FISH: Contaminants can best be avoided by avoidance of fish liver oils (such as
cod liver oil) and very limited consumption of predator fish. Small, short-lived fish such as
anchovies, sardines, menhaden, carp, catfish, herring, lake trout, and mackerel, and small
predators like bluefish, pompano, salmon, striped sea bass, tuna (albacore), and the like are
preferred, since large, predatory, long-lived fish tend to concentrate pollutants at the top of
the food chain. Commercial fish oils are generally derived from appropriate
uncontaminated fish stocks, but attention to the label is important to assure this.
- FARMED FISH: Farmed fish are becoming problematic due to the increasing use of
vegetable feeds, which are rich in omega-6s but poor in omega-3s. They may also suffer
from contamination, especially if animal byproducts are used for food. Reporting and
regulation may eventually address these concerns, but they are not now addressed and are
becoming more and more significant as a greater proportion of fish in our diet come from
