Why is the IFOS mark not shown on the packaging?
Dear Vincenzo,
The IFOS (International Fish Oil Standards) mark is a certification of the quality of the supplement it appears on – where quality means the absence of contaminants potentially harmful to health and the freshness of the oil contained in the capsules, among other factors. In fact, the IFOS mark also certifies that the concentration of Omega-3s inside the capsules is exactly as stated on the label.
Why is it better to choose a certified Omega-3 supplement?
The need for such certification arises for several reasons. The most obvious is that, although not all Omega-3 supplements on the market have the same price, the cheapest purchase is not always the best value. Moreover, even supplements with the same price per gram can differ in value if the actual amount of Omega-3 in the capsules does not match what is declared on the label.
This is not just an economic issue, since the dosage you choose (how many capsules to take daily) depends on the concentration stated on the label. A lower actual concentration could lead you to unknowingly take an insufficient dose of Omega-3 for your needs, thus preventing you from obtaining the expected results from supplementation. A concentration certification such as that provided by IFOS reassures you primarily in this regard.
The second reason quality assurance is desirable is the potential contamination of raw materials with substances that may have adverse health effects, such as heavy metals, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and dioxins. The presence of these substances is due to pollution in the seas where the fish used for Omega-3 oil extraction live. By excluding the presence of such substances, the IFOS certification guarantees the safety of the supplement you are about to take.
Finally, it is important to remember that fish oil, precisely because it is an oil, can oxidize. Moreover, Omega-3 fats tend to oxidize more easily than others. Oxidized fish oil presents two problems: the presence of substances (oxidation products) whose harmfulness cannot be ruled out, and the reduction of Omega-3 concentration (converted by oxidation into other molecules). The IFOS certification guarantees that you are taking fresh, non-oxidized Omega-3s.
How the 5-Star IFOS Certification is obtained and what it means
The IFOS certification corresponds to the highest quality standard available worldwide for Omega-3 supplements.
It is granted following tests managed by SGS Nutrasource, an independent private company based in Guelph, Canada, which analyzes Omega-3 supplements batch by batch, in the exact condition they reach the final consumer.
The certification assigns one star for each test passed. IFOS 5-Star certified supplements, such as Omegor® Vitality 1000, Omegor® Veg, and several other products, guarantee:
- oxidation levels below 75% of the CRN (Council for Responsible Nutrition) standard;
- PCB levels below 50% of the CRN standard;
- dioxin levels below 50% of the WHO (World Health Organization) standard;
- correspondence between actual and label-stated concentration.
In particular, the multiple molecular distillation process that our supplement oils undergo allows reaching extremely high purity levels, with pollutant levels among the lowest in the world:
- dioxins do not exceed 0.5 parts per trillion (< 0.5 picoTEQ/kg);
- PCBs do not exceed 0.045 parts per million (< 0.045 mg/kg);
- lead and mercury levels are below the detection limit (10 parts per billion = 0.01 mg/kg).
These values earn our products two of their 5 IFOS Stars. Another star confirms freshness, thus absence of oxidation. The fourth star is the concentration guarantee mentioned above. The fifth star is awarded for positive evaluations in all tests performed.
Where to verify the certification
The IFOS program provides a public online database allowing you to check if the company you intend to buy Omega-3 from holds the certification and if the commercial batch has been analyzed and certified. You can consult it here: International Fish Oil Standards - IFOS. By entering the name U.G.A. Nutraceuticals, you will find all our IFOS certified products.
We hope this answers your questions and invite you to contact us again for any further clarifications.
Kind regards,
The Omegor Pharmacists Team
