Thread: Fish Oil
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Old 12-11-2006, 06:37 AM
EricT EricT is offline
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Join Date: Jul 2005
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Here is the background on the IFOS program provided to manufacturers. I've not included every little detail of the submission process but the info on the testing itself. The web site is not up right now. Last I read there were only three of four oils on it. However, posting on the web site is not mandatory and companies that don't recieve a certificate of analysis.

International Fish Oil Standards Program (IFOS Program)
Background
Nutrasource Diagnostics Inc., (“NDI”), a University of Guelph spin off company, is the world leader in omega-3 diagnostic care and international fish oil standards testing. NDI was formed in 2001 to commercialize omega-3 related assays developed by Lipid Analytical Laboratories in the University’s Research Park Center.

Program Summary
Since that time, NDI has launched a series of certification and validation programs in the
nutraceutical and functional food field, with a particular emphasis on omega-3 related
products. One of these leading programs is the International Fish Oil Standards Program
(“IFOS”), which clinically validates omega-3 products for concentrations of key ingredients and levels of contamination. Consumers across the world may access the web-site IFOSPROGRAM.com to view batch reports confirming the results of third party validation testing.

Testing Information
NDI, through its certified and accredited reference laboratory partners, tests the product for PCB, Mercury and Oxidation levels in accordance with Council for Responsible Nutrition’s voluntary monograph on omega-3 products and safety standards for human consumption. Dioxin and Furan levels are tested against the World Health Organization’s standard and omega-3 concentration is tested and compared with the product label claim. PCB, Dioxin and Furan levels are tested using liquid chromatography mass spectrometry at a detection limit of parts per trillion. Mercury is tested using cold vapor atomic absorption spectroscopy at a detection limit of parts per billion. Omega-3 content is tested using gas chromatography advanced capillary techniques as a percentage of weight, and Oxidation testing is conducted using a titration method for peroxide and uv-visible spectrophotometer for p-anisidine under numbered official AOCS methods Cd 8-53 for peroxide and Cd 18-90 for p-anisidine respectively.

Although the standard detection limit expressed for each category is set by the governing
organization, the IFOS program tests the products at far lower levels of detection in most
categories, based on the most advanced analysis technology platforms available. As the
sophistication of the instrumentation increases, the IFOS program will continue to update thetesting regiment to ensure it is on the leading edge of science.
© 2006 Nutrasource Diagnostics Inc. All rights reserved.

Consumer Benefit
With growing contamination concerns for the consumer, and recent clinical data suggesting the negative effects of mercury and PCB’s from edible marine sources, the IFOS programcontinues to grow in popularity and prove its value as a reliable source for third party validation. Consumers are becoming increasingly aware of the many clinically established health benefits of omega-3, but are equally concerned with contamination issues. The IFOS program delivers a suitable venue for the omega-3 supplement industry to showcase credible product sources.

IFOS Tests for Posting on the Web-site:
Dioxin and Furan Testing (results in PPT)
PCB Testing (results in PPT)
Essential Fatty Acid Testing (results in mg/g)
Oxidation (peroxide, anisidine, total oxidation – results in meq/kg)
Mercury Testing (results in 10 PPB)
Cadmium (results in PPM)
Lead (results in PPM)
Arsenic (results in PPM)
Nickel (results in PPM)

Additional Third Party QC Tests Available
Toxin Analysis
PDBE (results in PPT)
PAH (results in PPB)
OC Pesticides (results in PPB)
© 2006 Nutrasource Diagnostics Inc. All rights reserved

Nutritional Analysis
Basic Nutrition Facts Label (U.S. or Canada)
(Includes calories, total fat, saturated and trans fat, cholesterol,
sodium, carbohydrates, dietary fiber, sugars, protein, Vitamin A,
Vitamin C, calcium, iron)
Dietary Analysis for Nutritional Fat Content Only
Trans Fats
Vitamin A
Vitamin B1 (Thiamine)
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)
Vitamin B3 (Niacin)
Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine)
Vitamin C
Vitamin D
Vitamin E
Cholesterol (results in mg/g)
Stability Testing
Accelerated Stability Testing per time interval
Peroxide Value (solid)
Acid Value
Trace Elements
Aluminum (results in PPM)
Antimony (results in PPM)
Barium (results in PPM)
Beryllium (results in PPM)
Bismuth (results in PPM)
Boron (results in PPM)
Calcium (results in PPM)
Chromium (results in PPM)
Cobalt (results in PPM)
Copper (results in PPM)
Iron (results in PPM)
Lithium (results in PPM)
Magnesium (results in PPM)
Manganese (results in PPM)
Molybdenum (results in PPM)
Potassium (results in PPM)
Rubidium (results in PPB)
Selenium (results in PPM)
Silver (results in PPM)
Sodium (results in PPM)
Strontium (results in PPM)
Tellurium (results in PPM)
Thallium (results in PPM)
Tin (results in PPM)
Uranium (results in PPM)
Vanadium (results in PPM)
Zinc (results in PPM)
Microbiological Analysis
E. Coli
Total Coliforms
Yeast and Mold
Salmonella

Client may request any combination of tests as required. Subscription to the IFOS web-site posting service is not mandatory. Clients may request tests for internal quality control only, without subsequent web-site posting. In such cases, client will receive a confidential certificate of analysis.
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If you act sanctimonious I will just list out your logical fallacies until you get pissed off and spew blasphemous remarks.
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