"If you put Now Foods out of business, I'm coming after you--physically." I wasn't really scared, as back in college I had spent a summer as a bouncer at the biggest bar on the Jersey Shore. (The TV show isn't far off in their depiction muscle-bound guidos out cruising for chicks, and failing that, a fight). But this was unexpected --I mean, I was expecting some icy stares. I was expecting some debate. I was even expecting "the man" to stop by our $4,100 booth at the nutritional supplements trade show to see just what we were doing there. But I wasn't expecting the organizers to side with this creep who had just threatened me, and boot us out of their SupplySide East show last week at the Meadowlands in New Jersey.
We went there to suggest that industry retailers ask the suppliers lined up in the other booths exactly what levels of PCBs and other chemicals are in their new cure-all Omega-3 fish oil supplements.
Our tests have found that some fish oil pills have 70 times more PCBs in them than others, which might be good to know, particularly since they're hawking them to pregnant women and children in bottles with labels like the one I picked up at Costco on my way to the show--"L'il Critters Omega-3 Gummy Fish--Kids Love 'em, Parents Trust Them."
I'm not sure why parents trust this supplement-cum-candy so much, because neither that bottle nor any other I've found will tell you what the PCB levels are--despite decades of scientific literature documenting high levels of industrial contaminants in fish and in the blood of people and cultures who eat a lot of fish. Sure, many companies now treat their fish oil to remove some of the PCBs, but because the FDA has set no limit for these contaminants in supplements, there's almost no way for the consumer tell the difference between the cleaner product and the one that has 70 times more PCBs in it.
For some reason the supplement industry thinks there should be no additional regulation of their industry -- in March they cowed Senator McCain into withdrawing support for his own legislation that would have done that. They also think that they shouldn't even have to warn people when their product contains chemicals that could hurt your health -- this in a product that's supposed to improve it. There is one warning that the executive director of the industry trade group has been willing to provide -- a warning that "companies not named in the lawsuit should not consider it an opportunity to publicize results of testing on their own supplements." It looks like they're hanging onto "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" even if the military abandons it.
Instead, like the Vatican, they're claiming that they're the victim -- a victim of media attacks and in this instance a California law that doesn't set any limits on the levels of contaminants they can expose people to, but only requires warnings to consumers when the amounts are too high. (It's a law much like the Federal False Claims Act, signed by Lincoln in the Civil War to stem fraud by military contractors, which enlists whistleblowers to help the government catch violators.) The irony to all this is that regulation would actually help the industry, giving consumers the confidence that the products they buy are safe; but the industry is apparently so enamored of anti-regulation rhetoric that they're willing to simultaneously endanger their customers and their long-term profitability. Thus ideology does make idiots of us all.
I'm surprised at another thing--why industries still think it's a good idea to follow the tobacco industry's playbook, which ultimately failed disastrously. Maybe there was a time not so long ago when you could hide your own scientists' studies, roll out a slick PR campaign, and control the politicians and regulators with the knowledge that your opponents couldn't afford to go toe-to-toe with you.
That approach, if it ever worked, is long gone, along with record stores, newspaper classifieds (and a lot of the newspapers themselves), and many other such pre-Internet approaches. With the gatekeepers laid off, costs greatly reduced, and information dispersal at light speed, we're now starting to find out what industries like the nutritional supplement business used to be able to pay to keep secret. Watch this space.
The author is a plaintiff in a lawsuit under California's Proposition 65 against two fish oil supplement retailers--CVS Pharmacy Inc. and Rite Aid Corp.--and six manufacturers--General Nutrition Corp. (GNC); NOW Health Group Inc.; Omega Protein Inc.; Pharmavite LLC (Nature Made brand); Solgar Inc.; and Twinlab Corp.
Michael Macher: Are Fish Oil Supplements Safe? Industry Leaders Speak Out
Stiv J. Wilson: How Toxic are Fish Supplements?
Fish oil - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Quick Study: Fish oil may not improve the mental functioning of older people
Major US fishery takes a beating after oil spill
From our website: www.hormonesynergy.com
It’s important to keep in mind that not all products are alike, no matter what the label or packaging may claim. Make sure the supplements you take are manufactured in facilities that have pharmaceutical certification or are certified for good manufacturing practices (GMP) by the NPA (Natural Products Association), NSF (National Sanitation Foundation) International, or TGA (Therapeutic Goods Administration of Australia).
Note: there is a difference between GMP compliance and GMP certification. GMP compliance means the company monitors itself for adherence to GMP standards. GMP certification means an independent organization monitors the company for GMP standards.
It’s very expensive to become GMP certified; however, this certification ensures that the products you use are of exceptional quality. Besides coming from GMP-certified companies, ideally the supplements you take should be scientifically evaluated to verify the presence and concentration of active constituents. Very few supplement manufacturers conduct clinical trials on their formulas to document safety and effectiveness. This is because research is very expensive to perform. However, purchasing supplements with documented safety and effectiveness is a reliable investment in your health.
What about Country Life brand Omega 3?
It says it's "purity tested" for PCBs and mercury -- whatever that means.
It also says it's "Third Party Tested," but doesn't say PCB-free, or mercury-free. It just says "tested."
So I'm satisfied.
So, what have I been doing... poisoning myself!?
These days, we just have to be ever more vigilant. Google for info about stuff before we consume/use it. Go with respected brands, though that wouldn't have helped with the fish oil/PCB dilemma given that strong brands contributed to the problem.
And it's not just PCBs, as I write about here http://www.garmaonhealth.com/2010/03/pcbs-salmonella/ but also salmonella, potentially in everything from chicken to spinach.
One thing to do is to take supplements that help to remove heavy metals. Stuff like chlorella and cilantro. Also, some claim that detox cleanses can help remove PCBs from the body, although I would think that this would only be true if specific ingredients were included the detox regimen.
If interested in detox cleanses, consider starting with something straight forward and healthy, like this one: http://www.garmaonhealth.com/2010/01/detox-time/ ... although this is not one that will necessarily cleanse out PCBs.
Yep.
Another thing to be aware of is that the processing of fish oils can unfortunately produce some trans fat which partly defeats the purpose of taking the fish oil. Look for cold pressed fish oils (just like you should look for in olive oil, etc).
Maxine Fox
http://reverse-diabetes-naturally.blogspot.com/
This entire lawsuit is obsurd and Manthey is a professional plaintiff who will makes hundreds of thousands of dollars on this lawsuit. However, once it's all said and done, the purity of marine oils will not change and the Prop 65 headhunters will move onto a new target.
This is not about safety. It is about profit for Manthey and his goons.
Your laughable attempt to equate the risk to babies from consuming breast milk is silly on its face. Not only is breast-feeding the best way to feed human babies, it is also a major source of a variety of toxic chemicals that buildup in the food web and in our bodies. That is conundrum faced by women who want the best for their kids (breast feeding) but they are rightfully concerned about the doses of poisons they are feeding them as well.
The only solution to this is to make every effort to eliminate these toxins from our diets and from the planet; making sure that supplements are clean is only one step but an important one.
Sorry if your short-term economic interests prevent you from understanding the facts about PCBs.
Oh, and btw, the congener specific toxicology of PCBs is not reflected in your position. Is the "rediculously low" levels of PCBs comprised of Congener 126? Or a mixture of the dioxin-like congeners? It makes a difference. And of course, let's not forget the non-dioxin toxicity of some of the PCB congeners.
If Manthey was really concerned with safety he'd go after a food that actually had high PCB levels in it. But of course this is not about safety, it's about greed. You do realize that the majority of foods in your local grocery store have higher PCB levels (including the dozen highly-toxic congeners), right? Why not go after them? There isn't a single item at the seafood counter that complies with the 90 ng/day limit you know. Oh, because it won't be as profitable. Gotcha. Safety first, right? I guess not.
Carlson's is awesome product; having purchased the Fish Liver Oil and Cod Liver Oil several times now, I can vouch for the quality and for what I've discovered through extensive research. Carlson's is not cheap, but I never speak or dialogue on those terms (i.e., cheap = good), unless I am forced to...and why? You get what you pay for -- that's a truism fer shure!
And, I'm a believer in nutritional/life synergy; you canNOT put faux chemicals together and mimic what you get, combined, in nature. Not ever. Balance and diversity are key = all equal == synergy.
Like all things, people should be careful of what they buy.
Whole flax and Whole chia ground are good for you just like any other seed, because it contains all kinds of other nutrients besides the oil.
Flax has ALA Omega-3. Only 5 to 10% of ALA is converted to usable form of Omega-3 EPA. ALA will not, I repeat, NOT be converted into DHA at all.
Women are better than men at converting ALA.
And teenage girls are pretty good at it, converting almost 20%.
A 40-plus-year-old would have to take a dozen or more flaxseed oil pills to equal the benefit of fish oil. I'm not making this up. My source is Pubmed and the link below:
http://www.omegavia.com/flaxseed-oil-vs-fish-oil/
But don't stop eating flax seeds or chia seeds - they are chock full of nutrient goodies.
Consumerlabs.com does test, but the tests are voluntary. So the products listed are limited. However, if you want safety, this would be the site to subscribe to.
I stopped reading.
Please unflag the article and consider looking up words before you flag other articles.
My sensibilities still do not like the abbreviation. Sorry, and un-flagged.
Quality supplements cost more, but are well worth it. Buy Carlson's or Nordic brand fish oil for quality. Products sold by Mercola.com are safe as well. Many good sources. Do your homework and avoid cheaply produced vitamins and supplements. Buy whole food or raw versions.
Tell Ralphs Markets to shop somewhere besides China. Who knows what else they are foisting on us.
http://www.sensorysmartparent.com
That was disgraceful. Anyone who takes up the chant of "Big Pharma" needs to realize that big supplement/alt-med is itself rich, powerful, and most importantly, unregulated. You have to just trust the company; there is no consumer protection.
And no one is immune from the danger, not even Gary Null
http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2010/04/28/2010-04-28_my_health_mix_almost_killed_me_supplement_nearly_fatal_sez_suit_vs_manufacturer.html
http://www.theness.com/neurologicablog/?p=1899
Outside of that: TRUST NOBODY