Posted by Jakeman on January 10, 2005, at 23:41:11
In reply to Re: ConsumerLab.com reviews fish oils » Jakeman, posted by Larry Hoover on January 10, 2005, at 22:35:12
> > Their website states that the tested fish oils had "safe levels" of mercury and PCB's, which is not exactly "free" of contaminants. I wonder what is considered to be a safe level. Does anyone have the full report?
> > -Jake
>
> The website said, "None of the products contained detectable levels of mercury, nor unsafe levels of PCBs."
>
> The limit of detection for mercury is about 0.1 ppb, and none was detected. Therefore, there must be less than that, in any brand of fish oil. Metals do not dissolve in oil. It's that simple.
>
> All foods are contaminated with PCBs. Organic vegetables are contaminated. Your McDonald's hamburger is contaminated. Milk, eggs, wheat flour..... You can't avoid PCBs, not matter what you do. If you're especially concerned, by a brand like Carlson's or Eskimo, that have those toxicants removed.
>
> LarI thought you might help put things in perspective. I broused the site again and came across this:
"To achieve a "Pass" in the testing a product must meet the following criteria:
Contain 100% and not exceed 150% of the claimed amounts of omega-3 fatty acids, EPA and DHA;
Have a peroxide value (PV) of no more than 5 meq/kg, an anisidine value (AV) of no more than 20, and a TOTOX value of no more than 26 (calculated as (2 x PV) + AV) (CRN Monograph Recomendation); Contain less than 0.1 ppm of mercury (CRN Monograph Recomendation);
Contain less than 0.09 mg/kg (ppm) of Total PCBs (sum of four non-ortho PCBs and eight mono-ortho PCBs). (CRN Monograph Recomendation);
If tested for dioxins (sum of 17 individual dioxin congeners), contain no more than 2 TEF/g (expressed in World Health Organization (WHO) toxic equivalents as WHO-toxic equivalent factors (TEFs). (CRN Monograph Recomendation)"So I guess one could surmise (if their tests are accurate) that fish oil is no more contaminated with mercury or PCB'S than tap water or most anything else that people ingest?
Jake
poster:Jakeman
thread:440363
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20050101/msgs/440458.html