Are your fish oil pills lying about how much omega-3 they have?
The Quantitation of EPA and DHA in Fish Oil Dietary Supplements Sold in the United States
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
One product had no EPA or DHA label claim at all — only a total omega-3 claim — yet still sold as a premium omega-3 supplement.
Most people assume all fish oil labels clearly state EPA and DHA — but this product hid behind vague wording, exploiting consumer trust.
Practical Takeaways
Look for third-party verified brands (like USP, NSF, or ConsumerLab) — they test for label accuracy and contaminants.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
One product had no EPA or DHA label claim at all — only a total omega-3 claim — yet still sold as a premium omega-3 supplement.
Most people assume all fish oil labels clearly state EPA and DHA — but this product hid behind vague wording, exploiting consumer trust.
Practical Takeaways
Look for third-party verified brands (like USP, NSF, or ConsumerLab) — they test for label accuracy and contaminants.
Publication
Journal
Dietetics
Year
2024
Authors
Joseph E. Hilton, W. N. Setzer, P. Satyal, Ambika Poudel, Sawyer Ashcroft, Rakesh Satyal
Related Content
Claims (5)
Many fish oil supplements sold commercially do not contain the amount of EPA and DHA claimed on their labels, show signs of degraded fats beyond safe limits, and may contain harmful contaminants like heavy metals.
Fish oil supplements on the market contain different amounts of omega-3 fatty acids, with some having as little as 31.6% and others as much as 83.4% of their oil content, and the balance between omega-6 and omega-3 fats also varies significantly between products.
Commercial fish oil supplements contain varying amounts of omega-3 fatty acids, with total doses ranging from 680 mg to 4,600 mg per day, and EPA and DHA doses that are lower than the 4,000 mg per day dose used in FDA-approved prescription omega-3 products.
Testing of 15 fish oil supplements sold in the U.S. found that some contained EPA or DHA levels that were more than 20% higher or lower than what was stated on the label, suggesting that label claims for these nutrients are often inaccurate.
Laboratory testing of two fish oil supplements revealed that one contained significantly less EPA than stated on the label, while another contained more DHA than claimed.