Changhua County Health Bureau conducted spot tests on commercially sold fish oil; in the second round, 60% of labels did not match
The Changhua County Health Bureau today released the results of its second round of testing of the DHA and EPA content of fish oil products on the market. The DHA and EPA content of 60% of the products did not reach the levels claimed on the outer packaging, with the lowest content reaching only 20% of the labeled value.
The health bureau said that of the 10 fish oil products tested this time (one of which was shrimp oil), only 4 had DHA and EPA content reaching the levels claimed on the outer packaging, 3 had only DHA or EPA content reaching the claimed levels, and the remaining 3 fish oil products had DHA and EPA content ranging from 20% to 90% of the labeled values (for the test results on the ingredient content of fish oil products on the market, please click here).
The health bureau stated that EPA and DHA content not matching the labeled values already constitutes a violation of Article 28 of the Act Governing Food Safety and Sanitation, and under the law a fine of no less than NT$40,000 and no more than NT$4 million may be imposed. If counterfeiting or adulteration is involved, a fine of no less than NT$60,000 and no more than NT$200 million may be imposed under the law. All of the above products have been referred to the competent health bureaus in their respective jurisdictions for source investigation and handling.
The health bureau emphasized that among the products whose EPA and DHA content failed to meet the labeled values in this round of testing, there was no shortage of high-priced fish oil products, with retail prices per bottle ranging from 350 to 990 yuan, which converts to 6.7 to 30 yuan per capsule, showing that price level is not related to the amount of EPA or DHA content.
Finally, the health bureau reminded the public that the best source of fish oil is still eating natural foods such as mackerel, tuna, salmon, sardines and saury, but if they are large migratory fish, they may contain higher amounts of heavy metals due to biomagnification, so the public should still pay attention to appropriate intake. If fish oil products need to be taken as supplements, it should be noted that the EPA and DHA in fish oil capsules are very easily decomposed and oxidized by light, exposure to air or failure to refrigerate at low temperatures. Products purchased should be packaged in light-blocking containers, and after purchase they should be stored in a cool place and consumed before the expiration date to ensure product quality.
