Cod Liver Oil Quandary

[Guest guest]

I have done a little research on cod liver oil. There was something

that came across a loop a while back about the Blue Ice being

deoderized and then the A and D were added back in. I wanted to know

the truth so I called Green Pastures, Dr. Ron's, Carlson's, Garden of

Life, and Radiant Life. All these companies are listed in the WAP

Buying Guide. I am now more confused than ever! It appears to me

everyone in the industry is either just confused themselves or they

all lie (a lot). I think they all gave me just enough information to

keep me from really understanding what was going on. My suspicion is

that there is one huge refinery in Norway and they all pretty much get

the same stuff from there and slap a different label on it.

Apparently, the Carlson's is distilled or " steam processed " . Whatever

all that means, I got the impression they use heat in the processing.

But, I'm not sure they don't in the others also - in fact I think they

do at some point in the process. Some may use a lower temp heat than

others but they all seem to distill in some way.

For the Blue Ice labels (Green Pastures and Dr. Ron's), I got

conflicting info. even though they have the same label. One said they

were cold pressed and another said no one in the industry cold

presses! Radiant Life said they split the oil into 2 streams and the

stream without the A and D is distilled (heat) and the other stream

isn't. My chemist hubby snorted when I told him this one. Take that

for what you will!

There is one other option out there and that is fermented cod liver

oil. Apparently, the Blue Ice labels (Dr. Ron's, Green Pastures, and

Radiant Life) takes cod livers and lactic acid ferments them. This

must make the oil be released from the livers in a more pure and less

processed way. It also must do what fermenting does to anything -

increase all the " good stuff " like the vitamins a lot. I think there

might not be any heating but got conflicting info on that one too.

It appears to me the cost per serving is pretty much the same because

you only need 1/4 tsp. with this one. You get 250 servings out of 8

oz. compared to 96 out of 8 ounces of the regular Blue Ice.

If anyone out there can clear this up I'd really appreciate it. I've

seen Chris' info on Peskin's parent oil stuff which is a whole 'nuther

ballgame. I'm glad he clarified that.

For my money, I think I'm going to switch to the fermented cod liver

oil. I am convinced fermenting is so good for you that fermenting

something as wonderful as CLO has got to be a good thing. Just my

opinion! Again, anyone wishing to clear up all the different

processing rhetoric and " Why our oil is best " sales jive, please feel

free to do so.

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[Guest guest]

--- Colyn <jadegarden96@...> wrote:

> I have done a little research on cod liver oil. There was something

> that came across a loop a while back about the Blue Ice being

> deoderized and then the A and D were added back in. I wanted to

> know the truth so I called Green Pastures, Dr. Ron's, Carlson's,

> Garden of Life, and Radiant Life. All these companies are listed in

> the WAP Buying Guide. I am now more confused than ever! It

> appears to me everyone in the industry is either just confused

> themselves or they all lie (a lot).

, have you seen this WAPF article by Dave Wetzel who now runs

Green Pastures?

Cod Liver Oil -- Notes on the Manufacture of Our Most Important

Dietary Supplement, March 2006

http://www.westonaprice.org/modernfood/codliver-manufacture.html

Dave doesn't explain the proprietary process that allows removal and

then restoration of the natural vitamins A and D in the CLO.