I’ve written in depth before about the supplements I personally take, which for a long time included fermented cod liver oil.
If you follow many bloggers in the natural health community, you’ve probably seen the recent drama about the potential quality issues with fermented cod liver oil. I delve into this in depth below but the summary of my personal current opinion on the issue is that:
- There is conflicting evidence on the safety of fermented cod liver oil (and more recently even on the safety of any omega-3 supplements) that warrant more research.
- Health and nutrition continue to become more and more personalized so what works for me is not likely to work for you and vice versa.
- I personally am focusing on getting all nutrients from food whenever possible and with rare exception and am sticking to foods like sardines and other low-mercury fish in place of supplements.
It is important to note that this is strictly my personal opinion and is in no way close to medical advice (nor is any information on this website). As always, I encourage you to do your own research and due diligence on any health related decisions.
FCLO Drama…
Fermented Cod Liver Oil is considered a traditional food that has been recommended by the Weston A. Price Foundation and many real food bloggers (including me) for years. It was even the WAPF recommended brand for use in homemade infant formula and many members take it religiously.
On August 21, 2015, Weston A. Price Foundation Vice President Dr. Kaayla Daniel released a 100+ page report detailing the results of independent lab tests that she had on samples of Green Pastures Fermented Cod Liver Oil and that alleged major issues with the brand, including rancidity, lower levels of nutrients than were claimed, and sourcing issues.
Dr. Daniel’s report claims that FCLO is not actually fermented, is rancid, putrid, and adulterated with other (cheaper) oils. It also alleges that there are lower levels of fat soluble nutrients in FCLO than claimed and that the oil isn’t even from cod. Serious claims from a well-respected person in the real food community.
Understandably, this has left many people in the real food community reeling and looking for answers. I’ve gotten many emails, comments, and social media messages in the last few days asking what my take on the subject is, and have spent a lot of time researching this myself.
Below is my personal opinion and research on this issue based on the information available right now. I will continue to update this post as more information is revealed.
My hope is that no matter the outcome of further research and study about fermented cod liver oil, the real food community will take this as a lesson in the importance of verifying the quality of supplements and use this as an opportunity to improve the real food movement, rather than to divide the community.
Is Fermented Cod Liver Oil Safe or Rancid?
In short… I don’t know.
Based on the information available from both sides, I don’t think it is possible for anyone (short of Green Pastures, the company producing the fermented cod liver oil in question) to know the answers to all of the questions that many people are asking right now. At the same time, there are some holes in the report from Dr. Daniels and some potential financial ties that have come to light that call her motivation into question.
When our family first started taking fermented cod liver oil years ago, I did a lot of research on the company and on cod liver oil in general (as anyone should do before taking fat soluble vitamins regularly). The only lab reports I was able to find at the time were from Green Pastures and they showed no rancidity in the fermented cod liver oil and verified that FCLO did contain the fat soluble vitamins it was known for.
The recent report from Dr. Daniel calls these tests into question. Her results have the lab company and the party funding the test blurred out, which is somewhat suspect, though I do not think that this necessarily discredits the information in the reports. The report does, however, make some assertions about certain compounds being harmful as a justification for why FCLO is not safe, and some of these claims are not backed by existing science (or are at least controversial).
In the last six months or so, I’ve actually been researching and testing different forms of cod liver oil after readers have inquired about different brands and reported issues they’ve had with FCLO.
My Experience
Our family has seen benefits from taking fermented cod liver oil over the years, including reversal of tooth decay. I’ve also noticed that my skin is naturally more sun tolerant since taking FCLO, probably from the fat soluble vitamins it contains.
At the same time, there is the possibility that the quality of Green Pastures FCLO has changed since I researched it years ago, or that more recent lab testing has been able to reveal problems that were undetectable years ago.
Fermented Cod Liver Oil: The Claims
FCLO is Not Fermented:
There may be some truth to this claim. I’ve talked before about the importance of fermented foods for health, and why the naturally created beneficial bacteria in fermented foods are so important.
The red flag that Daniels explains is that oil cannot ferment. The process of fermentation requires the presence of a carbohydrate as the food for the fermentation process. Many people (including me) assumed that an unnamed carbohydrate was used for the fermentation process but was removed by the process so it was not listed on the ingredients or that the livers themselves were fermented and not the oil (as an oil can’t ferment without another ingredient).
Green Pastures owner Dave Wetzel has been less than transparent about this fermentation process, though supposedly he has brought several WAPF members and high profile bloggers to his facility to see the process and verify its quality. (I have never been to the facility and have no firsthand knowledge of this process, so I have to rely on Dave’s explanation of his process).
This is one area that I hope we see more detail on from Green Pastures and from independent sources in the future. For now, the debate about the process used and what part of the process actually requires fermentation does not necessarily mean that the final product is not high quality, but it does raise some interesting questions to explore.
FCLO is Rancid:
Fats and oils cannot ferment without carbohydrates, so what happens when they are exposed to the conditions of fermentation? In short, they go rancid.
This is the basis for the claims in the new report. The independent lab results from Dr. Daniel show several biomarkers of rancidity in the samples tested (these were not present in the reports I found in my initial research).
In Daniel’s tests, peroxide, free fatty acids and other biomarkers of rancidity were found. I was unable to find clear answers directly from Green Pastures, though I found several older articles and interviews in which Dave states that his product does not contain these biomarkers or that the substances are not harmful. Again, more research is needed from independent sources on this.
Low Levels of Vitamins:
Another claim in the reports is that FCLO contains less fat soluble vitamins than claimed and that the Vitamin D is in the form of D2 and not D3.
The common consensus among medical experts is that D3 is the preferred form, though Green Pastures claims that D2 is equally safe and effective. To be fair, all forms of cod liver oil contain higher levels of D2 and this does not necessarily raise a red flag, but again, more research is needed.
Also, Green Pastures has never made claims, to my knowledge, about the levels of nutrients in their products, carefully explaining that they are a food product and that levels can change.
Not Actually Cod:
The report further claimed that the DNA tests on Green Pastures products showed that the livers used were from Alaskan Polluck, not cod. This seems to be partially an issue of understanding of fish species and families, since:
The Alaska pollock or walleye pollock (Gadus chalcogrammus, formerly Theragra chalcogramma) is a marine fish species of the cod family Gadidae. Alaska pollock is a semipelagic schooling fish widely distributed in the North Pacific with largest concentrations found in the eastern Bering Sea.
After hours of research, I could not find any definitive answer directly from Green Pastures about the origin or species of the fish they use. The closest I could find was Dave’s vague answer from his own FAQs:
Ok, The question arises on the topic of location of the fish. The fish school in the northern, cold waters around the Arctic Ocean. They do not have a nationality and a fish can school for a 1000+ miles in its life. So the relevance of the specific spot the fish is cleaned is not relevant to the discussion, ‘is the fish safe to consume’.
Red Flags from the Report
While Kaayla’s report certainly raises some concerns about FCLO, it also raises some concerns about its own validity. For instance:
- The labs used for the testing and who paid for the independent testing is not disclosed. This isn’t necessarily a red flag on its own, but given the rumored history of drama within the WAPF organization, I think it deserves further investigation. Given how much heated press this report has generated, I can certainly understand the potential desire of a donor to remain anonymous in the report, but it does raise a red flag.
- Though I have no firsthand experience with any of the board members of WAPF, including Sally Fallon or Dr. Daniel, reports of internal drama run rampant in the real food community. In fact, I avoided joining the WAPF for years partially because of these claims. We have not heard an official response from WAPF or Green Pastures yet, and I think that thoroughly evaluating both sides will be an important step for any of us looking to understand the long term validity of these claims.
- The one funding source that Kaayla mentions in the report, Dr. Ron Schmid ND, has a long and somewhat dramatic history with FCLO. He reportedly took (really large doses- above the recommended amount) of regular cod liver oil and then fermented cod liver oil for decades and attributes them to his severe heart disease. He has also stated publicly that he attributes his miraculous recovery from heart disease with discontinuing taking FCLO. Not exactly an unbiased source. Again, this does not discredit the information, but does raise some additional questions.
- While Daniels lists sources for many of her claims, she doesn’t list her sources for many of her quotes. In fact, while she says she talked to many experts (including “top university professors, scientists, researchers, lab managers, doctors and other health care practitioners”), these sources are unnamed for many of her more serious allegations. Obviously, these claims would carry much more weight if they were substantiated and sourced.
- It also raised a red flag for me that Daniel has a call to action for her own services in the report, saying: “Finally, if you think you have health challenges related to FCLO consumption, share your story with friends, colleagues . . . and me. If you think you’ve been harmed, I would like to offer you a FREE mini appointment by phone or face-to- face on Skype. To share your story or to make your appointment, contact me at ***********@earthlink.net.” I can understand her desire to help others if she truly feels that FCLO is harmful, but a report making these allegations does not seem like the appropriate place to make this offer. Again, not a reason to discredit the report, but a red flag.
- Emerging information has also revealed some potential political ties from the new organization Dr. Daniels founded after leaving/being forced out of WAPF and the makers of the Extra Virgin Cod Liver Oil product she recommends. In other words, the company she recommends as an alternative to FCLO is a sponsor of her new organization so she may have a bias here. Additionally, there is a lot of information floating around about potential conflict within the old organization hierarchy of WAPF that suggests there may be much more to the story on both sides.
The Bottom Line
Based on the available information at this time, it is extremely difficult or impossible to draw a definitive conclusion on the issue of the quality of Green Pastures FCLO or other CLO products. I think that this whole “scandal” is a symptom of a much bigger problem- the mud slinging between competing companies and emerging attacks on both sides of the fence.
The report brings up some serious points and hints at some possible misleading information from Green Pastures over the years. As a mom who has given FCLO to my own family for years and seen good enough results to share my experience with you, I am extremely angry and disappointed in Green Pastures if any of these claims turn out to be true. At the same time, there are some serious holes in the Dr. Daniel’s report and the potential financial ties to the new company bring up more questions.
I think more research and disclosure is needed from both parties, and like I said, I hope that all of us in the real food community will use this as an opportunity to improve, learn more, and get to the truth, and not as an excuse to argue and divide.
At the end of the day, I have to hope and trust until I see evidence to the contrary that both the founders of Green Pastures and Dr. Daniel are interested in health and serving their communities and continue to evaluate any information as objectively as possible.
At the same time, I don’t think either side is unbiased.
Green Pastures, of course, derives a profit from the sale of their FCLO. Dr Daniel has a rumored history of contention with different parties within WAPF and with Green Pastures as well as potential financial ties to the new EVCLO company. Again, none of these are relevant to the validity of the data in the reports or even necessarily to the motivation of either party, but they do provide a possible motivation for slanting information one way or the other.
At the end of the day, things are rarely what they seem on the surface and my guess is that we will continue to find more from both sides of this story.
What Our Family is Doing
As I mentioned, after many reader questions, I have been researching FCLO and alternative cod liver oil sources for months.
For now, my family is not taking any of these products and I am not linking to or sharing about these products.
Since there is so much conflicting information on the issue right now, please share any information or research you’ve found in the comments below. Has your opinion of FCLO changed as a result of this report?
what are you thoughts on Garden of Life cod liver oil…I was taking that product before taking the Green Pastures FCLO 5 years ago simply because the fermented one is suppose to be a better higher quality.
I used to take Garden of Life CLO. At some point years ago they started adding in synthetic vitamins just like most other brands do.
Gosh, I bought my first bottle last month and just (as in yesterday) reordered a 2nd bottle of capsules (EXPENSIVE). I guess I’m slow on the uptake and didn’t hear about all the controversy.
Katie, I thought the draw to Green Pastures was that they offered the fermented cod liver blended with butter oil to get the full benefits. Do you take something in conjunction with extra virgin (non fermented) cod liver oil?
I’ve also been taking Vitamin K2
Hi Katie,
Do you give your kids the K2 as well in the form of MK-7? If so, what dosage do you give them? I have a 2 and 4yr old and i’m unsure what form to give them now that we left Green Pastures brand.
You asked Katie, but I’ll share what I read just yesterday: kids need MK4 for brain and eye development.
This the most balanced and thoughtful post I’ve seen on this topic so far! Thank you so much. Your red flags are exactly mine and for the same reasons.
As a Weston Price chapter leader, from my perspective the best thing that can come out of all this is that the WAPF Board pays to have GP cod liver oil tested at the same 5 labs that Dr. Daniel used. This time, hopefully, in order to ensure total transparency, the names of the labs will be disclosed and the results made public to the membership.
I can’t see any other way to fully lay this controversy to rest. We need apples to apples testing with full transparency.
This has nothing to do with this particular post but I am trying to remineralize my teeth based on your recommendations. My teeth look whiter but I feel as if my gums hurt more now as I brush them. I brush with coconut oil and rinse with baking soda. Is this some kind of a transisition? As in that it gets worse before it gets better.
XOXO
Baking soda is very hard on your enamel. I’ve been making toothpast for my family with calcium bentonite clay and essential oils and my family’s dental health has improved (less plaque, tooth sensitivity, and bleeding gums). There are lots of recipes online to choose from. I would avoid baking soda for regular use. It’s more of a once in a while thing.
Which essential oils do you use? Thanks
I noticed that baking soda is rough on gums so I use it once a week now.
Thank you thank you thank you for this article. I just read the report from Daniel and am a bit of an emotional mess. I have been giving FCLO to our young family for several years in an endevor to heal some dental issues and met with limited success. After reading this report it is implied that I could have been giving my children some seriously dangerous compounds. Like you I am angry that the opportunity for accusation and doubt is even there. I researched long and hard before starting these – but a certain measure of trust is required in the process – trust that company’s are honest and thorough in their testing and reports. I am angry at WAPF for not responding to these allegations. And I am scared, scared that something I was trying to do to promote health in our family could be causing harm.
Do you think we need to be concerned about long term health repercussions?
Thank you again for addressing this!!!
When I first started seeing my naturopath, I told her I was taking Green Pastures FCLO. I was impressed with her due-dilligence, because she actually had one of her pharmacology students call the company to get details on exactly how much of various vitamins the product contained, so that she could help me pinpoint what dosage would be best.
After quite a lot of work, her assistant finally got through to someone at green pastures, but they would only provide very vague, somewhat evasive answers about what was in the product, and gave some strange excuses about why they couldn’t give a straight answer. As a result my doctor recommended I not take it since she didn’t really feel confident that we knew what we were taking.
This is mostly not related to your post, but it is another anecdote about Green Pastures engaging in some somewhat shady practices. I was happy at the time that I had a doctor to guide me on the issue, because everything I had heard about the products at the time were nothing but rave reviews.
The reason is because modern analyses do not work, easily proven when the results are very different even on the same batch (That is also why they do not give information on the content of vitamins, because it seems impossible to get the correct answers with modern test). Modern analyses do not consider natures own will. Wetzel explains this very good in his last blog-post.
I still eat my BIR non flavored, and I know from my long experience making foods what rancid tastes like and smells like, and non of the GP-oils tastes or smells rancid, except when they are exposed to sunlight. The FCLO contains may different oils, and the lightes ones flows to the top of the bottle, and these are the ones that tastes like hell.
Wow Christer. Very defensive! You also want to add that pollock is the same as cod? Or what about the usage of possible plant oils. Do you blindly trust WAPF and GP? Or can you see that there hasn’t been any concern addressed officially nor any reassurance or explanation? This is very fishy indeed and really hope it will be handled well as this imparts a huge loss of credibility..!!
The fishyness is with Dr.Daniels in my view, but I agree that GP needs to be more transparent. I do not believe the test results due to that they are not able to interpret the results properly. I do believe in the reports from the unnamed laboratories. Dr. Daniels use one result from one analysis to front her view, and another one to front another view. What about Dr. Daniels showing her own sources, names of the professors and so called experts, names of the laboratories used, and information how has funded the reports. Reports are reports, but how you interpret them is very variable, dempending on who wants the answers. In my oppinion Dr. Daniels is unprofessional because she is not telling us her sources.
As I mentioned in the article, there are issues on both sides that need to be addressed…
She can’t divulge the names of the laboratories because of legal agreements, which is a very common practice. She’s not intentionally keeping the names a secret.
Someone pointed out that they don’t want Fukushima fish (Pacific), as I don’t also. GP claims that the fish they use are Atlantic cod, not Pacific Pollock. Transparency? Truth?
……………………………Great pun, Michelle!
Wow Michelle,
You need to read the link on Christler’s post…and have the understanding that English is NOT HER FIRST LANGUAGE BEFORE YOU ALL JUMP ON THE ASSUMPTION WAGON.
Just sayin’
P.S. That would be the scientific study you would be looking for.
Yes, Chrisler, the lightest oil did flow to the top, didn’t it?
Infuriating! Thank you for the heads up, Katie! Hopefully we’ll soon see something like the Non GMO project for supplements. Thanks again for a being “watch dog” for us readers.
Another excellent idea…I have been hoping that the DARK Act vote will prompt some action that will be a serious consumer-driven, rather than government-driven, labeling process.
I just ordered 6 bottles of fclo from the Green Pastures back to school sale, amd now I am upset, angry and broke! Ugh!
Hi Katie, I am concerned now as I just purchased an entire year of Green Pastures (to save money) and now I’m wondering if I should still take it! But, thank you for the information.
Depending on where you bought it, you may be able to return it, (Amazon is great about this). If all works out well, you could repurchase it at that time.
I purchased it directly from GP. It was approximately a month ago, so I doubt I can return it. 🙁
30 days unopened can be returned. Check your date, I just received 4 bottles (2 days ago 🙁 ) and I am retuning them until there is more research.
I figured out it was probably almost 2 months when I got them.
Green Pastures accepts returns. perhaps we should return the products until our concerns are properly addessed.
Excellent idea, Carly. I don’t purchase directly from GP; I feel sorry for small suppliers like mine who are caught with the stock of it, perhaps. They, too, should press Dave for better answers instead of just publishing his labs reports.
Thanks for the post. This is the exact reason I consider you such a great source of information. You are a genuine person. I hope everything becomes clear soon – until then I’ll take a cod liver oil that actually tastes good 😉