Every single popular omega-3 and DHA supplement tested in a new consumer study contained ortho-phthalates, with total contamination levels ranging from 117 parts per billion to 6,193 parts per billion, Mamavation reported. The investigation, conducted in partnership with Environmental Health News, sent six popular dietary supplements to two EPA-certified laboratories to screen for contaminants that never appear on product ingredient panels.
Laboratory Results Show Phthalates in All Six Tested Supplements
The testing targeted products frequently purchased by consumers, including options from FullWell, Needed, Nordic Naturals, Ritual, and Thorne. While the price tags on these supplements were often high, the laboratory analysis revealed detectable ortho-phthalates in all six samples.
Total phthalate concentrations varied significantly across the brands. The lowest detection reached 117 parts per billion, while the highest measured 6,193 parts per billion. Because manufacturing aids, packaging materials, and storage conditions can introduce these chemicals unintentionally, they bypass standard ingredient disclosures entirely.
Heavy Metals Remain Below California Proposition 65 Warning Thresholds
In addition to phthalates, the EPA-certified laboratories tested the six supplement samples for heavy metals, including lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury. None of the products contained heavy metals at concentrations high enough to trigger a mandatory warning under California’s Proposition 65 guidelines. Six of the products exhibited low levels of these metals, while one supplement showed zero detectable heavy metals.
To evaluate these findings, Mamavation sent the products to EPA-certified laboratories for contaminant testing.
Pesticides and PFAS Chemicals Undetected in Tested Samples
The laboratory screening also searched for glyphosate and over 500 additional pesticides using liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry methods with a detection limit of 10 parts per billion. None of the six omega-3 and DHA supplements contained detectable levels of glyphosate or any of the 587 specific pesticides included in the multi-method panel.
Similarly, testing using EPA method 1633 for forty specific per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances—commonly known as PFAS or “forever chemicals”—returned non-detectable results across all six products. Biomonitoring data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that PFAS compounds circulate in the blood of virtually all Americans, making independent product screening a primary tool for evaluating non-food additives.
Frequently Asked Questions About Omega-3 Contaminant Testing
Which omega-3 brands were included in the laboratory analysis?
The tested products comprised FullWell Women’s Fish Oil with DHA & EPA, Needed Omega-3 Pro Dietary Supplement, Nordic Naturals Ultimate Omega, Nordic Naturals Prenatal DHA, Ritual Omega-3 DHA+EPA from Microalgae, and Thorne Prenatal DHA Dietary Supplement.
What laboratory methods were used to detect glyphosate?
Samples were analyzed using liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry with a standardized commercial detection limit of 10 parts per billion to identify glyphosate and AMPA residues.
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