For many consumers, the fish oil aisle starts with a simple question: How many milligrams of omega-3s are in each serving?
But that number is only part of the story.
As omega-3 supplements remain a common choice among U.S. consumers, quality is getting more attention. The Council for Responsible Nutrition reported in 2024 that supplement users spent a median of $50 per month on supplements, up slightly from $48 in 2023. That level of spending makes label details more important, especially in categories built around purity, sourcing and potency.
Fish oil products are usually marketed around EPA and DHA, the two long-chain omega-3 fatty acids most often associated with fish and seafood. Omega-3s are found in foods such as flaxseed and fish, and in dietary supplements such as fish oil. EPA and DHA are the forms that receive much of the scientific attention.
But fish oil quality does not begin with EPA and DHA totals. It begins with the fish.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration advises consumers to choose a variety of fish that are lower in mercury, especially for children and people who are pregnant or breastfeeding. That same principle has relevance for fish oil supplements. Fish oil makers use smaller fish, such as sardines and anchovies, because they sit lower on the food chain. Their shorter life spans may also limit the time contaminants can build up before the oil is processed and purified.
USANA BiOmega is an example of that approach: The product uses whole-body fish oil from anchovies and sardines, then undergoes high-vacuum molecular distillation and finished-product testing for heavy metals and other contaminants.
The USANA BiOmega fish-oil supplement is purified through high-vacuum molecular distillation, a process the review says is used to remove heavy metals, saturated fats and other undesirable compounds. The product is distilled twice and then tested again for heavy metals and other contaminants.
This approach is setting a new standard for fish oil manufacturing.
Fish oil can be affected by more than contaminants. Oxidation is another concern. Omega-3 oils can degrade when exposed to oxygen, heat or light, which may affect freshness and negatively impact the consumer experience.
The Global Organization for EPA and DHA Omega-3s reports that more than 94% of products met its stricter peroxide value limits, while nearly 98% met its p-anisidine value limits. Those figures suggest most products tested met those oxidation standards, but they also show why testing remains part of the conversation.
For consumers, this shifts the buying decision from a single number to a set of questions: What fish were used? How was the oil purified? Is the finished product tested? What form are the omega-3s in? Does the label list EPA and DHA separately, rather than only total fish oil?
BiOmega answers those questions with a formula built around traceable fish oil quality. Each two-capsule serving provides 1,200 milligrams of total omega-3 fatty acids, including 580 milligrams of EPA and 470 milligrams of DHA. It also includes vitamin D, a nutrient that helps the body absorb calcium and supports bone health, muscle function and immune function.
The USANA BiOmega supplement uses omega-3 fatty acids in concentrated triglyceride form. After purification, the oil is re-esterified back into triglycerides, a form associated with the structure of natural fish oil.
The broader takeaway is straightforward: Fish oil quality is built through a chain of decisions. Source fish, purification method, oxidation control, oil form, labeled EPA and DHA levels, and finished-product testing all help shape the final supplement.
Milligrams still matter. But in a crowded omega-3 supplement market, the better question may be what’s behind those milligrams before the capsule reaches the bottle.
