The sustainable story of our Skin Omegas+
The sustainable story of our Skin Omegas+
With benefits for skin, body and mind – omega fatty acid supplements have long been praised as a powerful wellbeing allrounder, and supplements including omega-3 and omega-6 are hugely popular. For years, ingredients high in these nutrients including cod liver oils, fish oils, and oil of evening primrose have been supplement staples.
Here at the Advanced Nutrition Programme™ we bring the benefits of omegas into the 2020s, working with innovative, sustainable ingredients and precisely synergised formulas to harness the benefits for our modern lifestyles.
Omega fish oils initially gained popularity during World War Two, when the UK government began to distribute cod liver oil (containing high levels of omega-3 fatty acids) to schoolchildren as part of a national drive on nutrition. The supplement became a national norm, with children lining up each morning for their daily spoonful, and its benefits mean it has remained hugely popular.
The modern approach to omega supplements, used by the Advanced Nutrition Programme™, could not be more different. Housed in natural capsules, our omega supplements are expertly synergised with complementary ingredients to further wellbeing benefits.
The development of our Skin Omegas+ and Omega 3 Fish Oil Supplements focused closely on sourcing the highest quality, sustainable omega-3 fish oils, adhering to our superior standards of purity and potency. A fish oil like no other.
As part of our clean label commitment, our suppliers are essential, and we are proud to work with leading partners worldwide who follow eco-sensitive practices. Here we share the inside story behind the capsules, for a glimpse into the sustainable journey from sea to supplement.
We source our omega-3 fish oils from a specific supplier: Epax® who are a pioneering, sustainable name in the industry. They were the first ingredient company to be awarded Friend of the Sea (FOS) certification for “documented, traceable and sustainable operations”.
As well as sharing our environmental ethos, Epax® is dedicated to superior standards in terms of purity of ingredients. All their oils are certified by the Global Organization for EPA and DHA (GOED) standards which means not only compliance but also exceeding the strict targets set by governments in terms of contaminants, heavy metal levels (for example Mercury) and fishing practices.
Sustainably Sourced
The fish used in our oils is caught off the coast of Peru adhering to FOS standards. This prevents over-fishing and guarantees the fishing methods used are sustainable and in line with conservation efforts. Only certified boats can be used and must be declared, meaning we have full traceability. We even know the names of the boats our fish are landed on.
Fishing nets used are all FOS approved and never reach the sea floor so cause no damage to the ocean beds. In addition, these standards ensure that accidental catches must not include animals listed in the red list of endangered species as “vulnerable” or “higher risk”.
Purity in Processing
Our fish oil is sourced from small fish, such as anchovies and sardines, as opposed to the traditional cod liver source. As these smaller fish are lower down the food chain, they typically contain less of a build-up of chemicals, heavy metals and other contaminants than can be found in larger fish. A process known as biomagnification.
Once the fish have been brought to shore, they are immediately processed and shipped to Norway for further testing and purifying to produce the fish oils used in our softgels – such as Skin Omegas+ and Omega-3 Fish Oils. This ensures we use the freshest oil in our supplements.
During the purifying step, our supplier Epax® avoids using harsh chemicals, instead favouring a light steam process and charcoal filter. This results in a pure oil with minimal contaminants and natural TG (triglyceride) forms of EPA and DHA.
Decoding the Difference
The high quality steaming and charcoal filtration used on our fish oils is not the norm in the supplement industry, and some fish oils may be highly processed, for example using hexane – a chemical compound which is a key component of gasoline. Paul Naude, quality and regulatory affairs manager for the Advanced Nutrition Programme™ describes the difference. “The signs of ‘chemically cleaning’ of fish oil are usually apparent due to a very strong fish smell and presence of the ethyl-ester (EE) forms on the ingredient list,” he explains.
The oil is encased in a premium fish gelatine softgel to offer further protection, and the formula includes a natural Vitamin E antioxidant as a preservative.
Paul Naude
