When a product is sourced from the ocean, questions inevitably rise about contaminants, like mercury or PCBs. Since introducing fish oils to the commercial market in 1982, Carlson has always made certain that their fish oils meet the highest standards of freshness and purity. Carlson omega-3 oils go through several steps of purification and beyond required testing guidelines to exceed third-party testing.

How Carlson Omega-3s are Purified

To begin with the oil undergoes a controlled temperature release of the fish oil from the fish tissue. The oil is washed and mixed using a gentle vacuum technique to remove moisture, impurities, and unwanted flavor. Next natural absorbents are used to further remove impurities such as dioxins, furans, and polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAH).

Water refining, usually called degumming, consists of treating the natural oil with a small amount of water, followed by centrifugal separation. Water refining removes unwanted phospholipids, sugars, resins, proteinaceous compounds, trace metals and other materials.

Molecular Distillation for High-Quality Omega-3s

Molecular distillation increases potency and purity. Molecular distillation involves the removal of impurities such as chlorinated hydrocarbons, saturated fats, oxidation products, PCBs, and free cholesterol. Molecular distillation is a gentle process performed at a low temperature.

Winterization and Deodorization for Omega-3s

The oil is cooled in a process called winterization which removes higher melting triglycerides and waxes. Winterization is used to enhance the desirable essential fats in the finished product.

Deodorization removes free fatty acids, mono-diglycerides, aldehydes, ketones, chlorinated hydrocarbons, and pigment decomposition products. This is usually the finishing step and results in a neutral tasting oil.

Antioxidants to Keep the Omega-3s Fresh and Stable

A touch of vitamin E or other antioxidants and Carlson taste award winning flavors are added to ensure the oil is fresh and stable. The oil is given a nitrogen flush to remove oxygen and prevent oxidation during packaging. Carlson liquid fish oils are bottled in Norway for maximum freshness. 

Third-Party Testing for Omega-3s

The finished product is tested prior to Quality Control release in Norway. Once the oils have arrived at Carlson headquarters in the US, samples of each batch are sent to be tested by IFOS (The International Fish Oil Standards Program). In addition the oils are IFOS and IGEN certified. IFOS allows marine oil companies to test and certify their products based on the highest quality, safety, and purity standards in the world. IGEN certifies a variety of product types, from herbal supplements and vitamins to food ingredients, to make sure they do not contain GMOs and proteins. 

Multiple industry awards and consistent leadership in the omega-3 market means you can trust Carlson Fish Oils to be the highest quality and the best choice for your family.