Is Fermented Cod Liver Oil a Safe Supplement?

I’ve been a proponent of fermented foods for years. I’ve made my own kombucha tea in the kitchen and served miso soup for breakfast — much to my children’s chagrin.

Like many, I got started on the fermented food kick because of my interest in their numerous health benefits. Many believe that the microorganisms which help to change sugar to alcohol, or produce our beloved yogurt and sauerkraut, improve intestinal flora and allow for better absorption of nutrients.

However, just because a food is fermented does not necessarily make it healthy. This is something to be particularly aware of when it comes to cod liver oil. So what’s the scoop on fermented cod liver oil?

What Is Fermentation, Anyway?

When applied to cod liver oil, the term “fermentation” makes little sense. This is because you cannot ferment an oil – a pure fat – by itself. Carbohydrates are fermented by means of an anaerobic breakdown, transforming sugars into alcohol or acids by microorganisms activity.

When cod liver oil manufacturers “ferment” cod liver oil, they extract the oil by putrefying the cod livers in vats exposed to air and sunlight (1). As the cod livers rot, they release oil in a process the manufacturers refer to as cold-extraction. The use of salty brine makes the process more similar to pickling rather than fermenting.

The Problem with Fermented Cod Liver Oil

The biggest concern with fermenting cod liver oil is the rancidity level of the final product. In processing their oil, fermented cod liver oil manufacturers leave the livers in vats exposed to air and sunlight for up to six months (1).

This is problematic on many levels. First of all, the omega-3 molecules oxidize when they are exposed to oxygen. As the molecules oxidize, the oil turns rancid, producing the offensive taste, odor and unpleasant stomach issues that many fermented cod liver oil consumers complain about. Not only do unappetizing rancid products make it hard for consumers to take sufficient doses of omega-3, rancid oils also contain harmful byproducts that are toxic. In fact, scientists describe these byproducts as having “a mutagenic and pro-inflammatory” effect, and say that they could be linked with increased cancer risks and Alzheimer’s disease.

When taking any omega-3 product, it is important to be aware of the oxidative status of the oil and to also pay attention to your senses. Truly fresh fish oil and cod liver oil have no fishy taste or smell — just like fresh fish.

Whether you are taking fish oil capsules or a liquid cod liver oil, you can assess the freshness level by tasting and smelling the product. Truly fresh fish oil and cod liver oil has no fishy taste or smell.

Water Pollution Affects All Fish Oils

The second big concern about fermented cod liver oil revolves around the purification of the oil.

Proponents of fermented cod liver oil state that “cold” processing the oil helps to protect important nutrients, like naturally-occurring vitamin A and D. This is true. Raw cod liver oil does contain potent amounts of vitamin A and D. With most modern processing techniques — like skimming, pasteurizing or ethyl-etherizing the cod liver oil — manufacturers end up destroying much of the vitamin content, as well as the full-spectrum of omega-3s.

However, purifying cod liver oil is important. In today’s world, we have polluted our oceans and lakes to such a degree that all fish oils must be purified. As the independent NOFIMA research institute in Norway showed, raw (non-purified) cod liver oil contains high levels of PCBs which exceed what is considered safe for human consumption (2).

It isn’t easy to measure the actual levels of PCBs and and heavy metals in oils, but these amounts are never zero and they do not disappear by themselves. Even with our pristine Omega Cure®, which comes from wild cod caught off the northwest coast of Norway, we must purify the oil to remove contaminants. When some fermented cod liver oil manufacturers state that consumers need not worry about contaminants because the fish comes from pure, arctic waters, they demonstrate a lack of knowledge about environmental pollutants.

‘Old’ Does Not Necessarily Equal ‘Healthy’

When considering the health benefits of any ancient food processing technique, it is important to remember that just because our ancestors ate it does not necessarily make it healthy. Yes, people have eaten bacteria-laden foods or consumed foul-tasting, rancid fish oil for hundreds of years. But we must still evaluate the long-term benefits and consequences of consuming these products.

Take, for example, “surstromming”, the Swedish fermented herring. It is widely believed to be the smelliest food in the world. Due to the buildup of noxious gases, most airlines have banned passengers from transporting this product for fear the cans will explode. Today, there is also talk of outlawing the fermented fish because of the high levels of PCBs — a cancer-causing toxin (3).

Making Cod Liver Oil for Today’s World

Our world and oceans have radically changed over the last century. The rotten fish our ancestors gobbled up as a delicacy are now full of potentially carcinogenic dioxins. And while I’ll be the first to tout the long and rich history of cod liver oil, I also believe the oil must be fit for today’s world and consumers. That means cleaning the oil, processing it gently, and yes, ensuring it is fresh and safe to consume.

Today, we are able to add the amounts of vitamin A and D found in raw cod liver oil back into the final product, ensuring people can experience the full range of nutrients these oils deliver. And thankfully, unlike your grandmother’s cod liver oil, our Omega Cure is so fresh, it has no fishy taste or smell. We also measure the oxidation values of each batch of Omega Cure, and label the measurements, along with the date of bottling, on every bottle and box of our products. This way, you as the consumer can know exactly how fresh your oil is.

That is something every person – fermented food fan or not – can get behind.

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References:

1. Wetzel, David. “Returning to Traditional Production Techniques for the Quintessential Sacred Food.” The Weston A. Price Foundation. April 30, 2009. http://www.westonaprice.org/health-topics/update-on-cod-liver-oil-manufacture/

2. Grimmer et al. “Lagringsstabilitet av et utvalgt marine oljer.” NOFIMA. Rapport 33/2013. June 2013. http://www.nofima.no/filearchive/Rapport%2033-2013.pdf

3. Grunderg, Sven. “Sweden Has Champagne Aspirations for Its Smelly Fermented Herring.” Wall Street Journal. September 3, 2012. http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB1000087239639044491490457761730095714435