Kosher fish oil is prepared according to Jewish dietary law, using fish with fins and scales that are carefully inspected. It is more expensive due to the difficulty in production, but may have fewer toxins than regular fish oil. Claims about impurities are not government-reviewed.
Kosher fish oil is fish oil that has been prepared in accordance with Jewish dietary law. The rules of kashrut or “kosher” dictate the types of food people can eat, and finding kosher dietary supplements can sometimes be challenging, as the Jewish market for such products is relatively small. For people of the Jewish faith who wish to keep kosher while adhering to health recommendations, kosher supplements are often significantly more expensive than regular supplements, due to the increased difficulty involved in production.
To be certified kosher, a fish oil must not include non-kosher animals. Kosher fish must have fins and scales, and by tradition, it should be possible to remove the scales without killing or seriously harming the fish. Fish used in the production of kosher fish oil must be carefully inspected to confirm that they are a kosher species, and the production facility must also be certified kosher, confirming that non-kosher materials are not handled there or are carefully isolated to prevent cross contamination.
Fish oil is a dietary supplement rich in omega-3 fatty acids, a class of compounds believed to be highly beneficial to human health. In particular, fish oil contains a lot of docoahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). Fish get omega-3s from the algae they eat and from eating other fish that have accumulated these lipids in their bodies. The oilier a fish is, the more omega-3 it has.
Research in the 1960s suggested that fish oil provided a number of health benefits, and as a result, this product became quite popular. However, fish oil is not without its problems. Along with omega-3s, fish tend to bioaccumulate fat-soluble toxins like mercury, which can be passed on to consumers who eat a lot of fish oil or fatty fish. Kosher fish oil tends to have fewer impurities, due to the type of fish used, which can make it appealing to people concerned about toxins; Kosher fish oil is also generally safe for pregnant women.
If a product is certified kosher, it will be clearly marked as kosher or kashrut, sometimes with a U-shaped pareve symbol. Devout Jews may want to consult with a rabbi or religious authority to confirm that it is acceptable to consume a product in particular. Consumers should also be warned that claims about impurities or lack thereof are not reviewed by government agencies, which means that if a kosher fish oil claims to be “low mercury” this has not been independently verified.
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