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Fish oil is one of the most common omega-3 supplements, and the shelves are crowded with brands. This guide covers what NCCIH and the NIH say about fish oil, the side effects and medicine interactions, why fish oil cannot carry a USDA Organic seal, and the one omega-3 product with an organic ingredient that we found.General information, not medical advice. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before you start a supplement, especially if you are pregnant, take medicine or are buying for a child.
Fish oil safety
- Omega-3 supplements usually cause only mild side effects, such as an unpleasant taste, bad breath, heartburn, nausea, stomach discomfort, diarrhea and headache.[1][2]
- High doses of omega-3s may cause bleeding problems when taken with warfarin or other anticoagulant medicines. Talk with your health care provider about interactions.[2]
- The FDA recommends no more than 5 g a day of EPA and DHA combined from dietary supplements.[2]
- Fish liver oils such as cod liver oil also hold vitamins A and D, which can be harmful in excessive amounts.[1]
What Fish Oil Contains
- EPA and DHA – Fish oil supplements contain EPA and DHA, the omega-3s found in seafood, especially cold-water fish such as salmon, mackerel and tuna.[1]
- ALA – A different omega-3, ALA, comes from plant oils such as flaxseed, soybean and canola oils. Flaxseed oil contains ALA, not EPA or DHA.[1]
- Other Omega-3 Supplements – Krill oil, cod liver oil and algal oil are other sources. Algal oil is a vegetarian source of DHA.[2]
- Seafood First – The Dietary Guidelines recommend that adults eat 8 ounces or more of a variety of seafood a week, and for some conditions the evidence for seafood is stronger than the evidence for supplements.[1]
Why Fish Oil Is Not Organic
- No USDA Standards – The USDA has no organic standards for aquatic animal products, so fish and fish oil cannot carry the USDA Organic seal.[3]
- Organic Ingredients – A fish oil blend can still hold an organic ingredient. The one pick here pairs fish oil with organic flaxseed oil, which adds ALA.
- What That Means – Read an organic claim on a fish oil as a claim about one ingredient, not about the whole product.
What to Check on a Fish Oil Label
- EPA and DHA Amounts – Compare the milligrams of EPA and DHA per serving, not the total fish oil figure on the front.
- Serving Size – Note how many softgels make one serving before you compare the price per serving.
- Added Ingredients – Check extras such as vitamin E or flaxseed oil against your medicines and your daily intake.
- Rules for Supplements – The FDA does not approve supplements before they are sold, and makers are responsible for the safety and labeling of their own products.[4]
What the Research Says
NCCIH says a 2020 review of 23 studies found that EPA and DHA lower triglycerides by about 15 percent but do not affect body fat or other lipids. Reviews of omega-3 supplements and stroke found little or no effect at low doses, and the evidence on heart disease risk is mixed.[1] For dry eye disease, a large NIH-sponsored study found omega-3 supplements were no more helpful than a placebo.[1]How We Chose These Products
We do not test products. We compare product details: form, amount per container, stated certifications, ingredients and availability.[3][4] Brands don’t pay to be included, though we may earn a commission from purchases.Our Omega-3 Pick
We found one omega-3 product with an organic ingredient, so this guide has a single pick. With every purchase through the link on this page, we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.1
TheraTears® Omega 3 Softgels Fish oil and organic flaxseed oil omega-3 softgels with vitamin E, 90 count
- TheraTears Omega 3 is a 90 count bottle of softgels that blend 1,200 mg of triglyceride fish oil with organic flaxseed oil and vitamin E.
- Each serving holds 450 mg EPA, 300 mg DHA and 450 mg ALA.
- It is sold as an eye-care supplement, and only the flaxseed oil is organic.
Index Table: Fish Oil Supplement
| No. | Product | Image | Features | Brand |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | TheraTears Omega 3 Softgels - Fish oil and organic flaxseed oil omega-3 softgels with vitamin E, 90 count |  |
| TheraTears |
Sources
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Omega-3 Supplements: What You Need To Know. Accessed October 27, 2026.
- NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Fact Sheet for Consumers. Accessed October 27, 2026.
- USDA Agricultural Marketing Service. Strengthening Organic Enforcement Frequently Asked Questions. Accessed October 27, 2026.
- NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. Dietary Supplements: What You Need to Know. Accessed October 27, 2026.
Update History
- Oct 2026: Rewrote the guide text and product notes around the NCCIH and NIH omega-3 pages, added the side effects, the 5 g limit and the label checks, explained why fish oil cannot be USDA Organic, removed unsupported claims and unrelated sources, and replaced the sources (NCCIH, NIH, USDA)
- Oct 2026: Removed Equazen Pro, Arazo Nutrition Omega-3, Barlean’s Orange Omega-3 and Garden of Life Minami Platinum, which carry no organic ingredient
- Jun 2020: Added TheraTears Omega 3 Softgels, Arazo Nutrition Omega-3 Concentrate, Barlean’s Orange Omega-3 and Garden of Life Minami Platinum Omega-3
- Dec 2019: First published
