“Anybody taking Omega 3 supplements based on fish oil needs to think about our vegetarian alternative.” That’s the message from James Betz, CEO of herbal supplement company Biotivia.
And he could have a point. The consumer group FishOilSafety.com (1) has recently launched a class action against ten fish-oil based manufacturers, claiming that the levels of carcinogenic PCBs in their products exceed California health regulations.
“Although PCBs have been banned for over 30 years (2),” Betz continues, “they are what is known as a Persistent Organic Pollutant (3), which means they don’t degrade and so get into the food chain. Farmed salmon, where much of the Omega 3 oil on the market today comes from, is particularly at risk. To compound the risk most fish oil supplement suppliers do not test for these compounds so it is impossible for the consumer to know if PCBs are in the supplement they are taking.”
A study by Indiana University concurs.”We think it’s important for people who eat salmon to know that farmed salmon have higher levels of toxins than wild salmon from the open ocean,” said IU School of Public and Environmental Affairs Distinguished Professor Ronald Hites, who led the study. (4)
Green Omega 3 is 100% vegetarian.
Biotivia have produced an Omega 3 product which provides high levels of EPA and DHA fatty acids, along with benefical co-ingredients.
- Swiss Martek DHA oil from algae (5)
- Peruvian Salba seed DHA oil. (6)
- Sesame seed (7) anti-oxidant lignans.(8)
- Cranberry oil, magnesiumn – and DHA-rich (9).
- Green tea anti-oxidant extract.
- Biotivia research-grade Resveratrol. (10)
James Betz explains the reasons behind his formulation. “As a company that values its American Vegetarian Association vegan certification (11), we wanted to find a way to bring the huge benefits of Omega 3 to everyone. Our new formulation is suitable for all religions, vegetarians, vegans … and anybody else who is concerned about the purity of the foods and supplements they put in their body.”
Betz continues: “The recent news report by ABC (12) alerted consumers to the dangers of persistent PCBs which are still posing a health risk 30 years after they were banned. I’m pleased that, following two years of research, Biotivia working with Pfizer Pharmaceutical’s Capsugel division, is able to offer a safe, vegetarian alternative to fish-based products. Better still, Green Omega 3 is more potent and has a wider spectrum of benefits than the fish-based products it was designed to replace. Also, whereas fish oil quickly becomes rancid, Green Omega 3 has a two year shelf life”
Update. The first batch of Green Omega 3 sold out to existing Biotivia customers in days. To go on to the priority waiting list (delivery end May) please leave your email address at www.biotivia.com/greenomegalist.html
Research notes:
(2) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polychlorinated_biphenyl
(3) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persistent_organic_pollutant
(4) Reference: Indiana University (2004, January 9). Farmed Salmon More Toxic Than Wild Salmon, Study Finds. ScienceDaily. Retrieved May 6, 2010, from http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2004/01/040109072244.htm
(5) http://www.martek.com/About/History.aspx
(7) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sesame
(8) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lignan
(9) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cranberry
(10) http://www.biotivia.com/resveratrol.html
(11) http://www.biotivia.com/company/news/american-vegetarian-association.html
(12) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xyMx8qNmeA&feature=player_embedded#!
Biotivia products are certified by the American Vegetarian Association.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
