Algal oil (DHA)
oil from microalgae such as Schizochytrium, carrying DHA and, in some strains, EPA
Omega 3Ingredient formSources last checked: October 15, 2026
Medical & Industry Advisor: Dr. James Pendleton, ND
Answer
Access
- Access model
- Open market
What it is
- Algal oil is an oil from microalgae, most often Schizochytrium strains, that carries the omega-3 fatty acid DHA, usually in triglyceride form; some strains also supply EPA. It is the plant-based alternative to fish oil as a source of these fatty acids. [NIH Office of Dietary Supplements, Omega-3 Fatty Acids fact sheet][FDA GRAS notice inventory, search "Schizochytrium"]
Forms compared
How algal oil DHA compares with related forms on a spec sheet and a label.
| Form | Declared on the label as | Content | Identity check |
|---|---|---|---|
| DHA oil from Schizochytrium, EU specification (2017 entry) | Algal oil, with DHA listed by amount per serving; the EU name is "Oil from the microalgae Schizochytrium sp." | DHA at least 32.0%, peroxide value at most 5.0 meq/kg, acid value at most 0.5 mg KOH/g (EU Union list entry as published in 2017)[Commission Implementing Regulation, 2026-10-15] | DHA percentage and the strain on the CoA |
| DHA and EPA oil from Schizochytrium, EU specification | Algal oil, with DHA and EPA listed by amount per serving; the EU name is "DHA and EPA-rich oil from the microalgae Schizochytrium sp." | DHA at least 15% and EPA at least 10%, peroxide value at most 5.0 meq/kg, acid value at most 0.5 mg KOH/g (specification as replaced by Regulation (EU) 2024/2062)[Commission Implementing Regulation, 2026-10-15] | DHA and EPA percentages on the CoA against these minimums |
| Algal oils in FDA GRAS notices | Algal oil, with DHA listed by amount per serving | Substance names in FDA's GRAS notice inventory state DHA grades from 35% to 50-60% for Schizochytrium oils, each tied to a named strain[FDA GRAS notice inventory, search "Schizochytrium", 2026-10-15] | The strain designation and notice number the supplier cites, and FDA's response to that notice |
On the Supplement Facts label
Algal oil has no Daily Value, so it is listed with its amount by weight per serving and a symbol, such as an asterisk, that refers to "Daily Value not established". DHA, and EPA where present, are constituents that may be listed indented beneath it with their amounts per serving. In the EU the authorized names are "Oil from the microalgae Schizochytrium sp." and, for the DHA and EPA oil, "DHA and EPA-rich oil from the microalgae Schizochytrium sp."[21 CFR 101.36(b)(3)(iii) and 101.36(b)(3)(iv), 2026-10-15][Commission Implementing Regulation, 2026-10-15]
Spec parameters buyers should demand
What to ask for on the certificate of analysis and spec sheet. Identity, quality, and regulatory parameters only. This is not advice about efficacy.
| Parameter | What to ask | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Strain and FDA notice | Ask for the strain designation of the microalga and the FDA notice or filing the supplier relies on for your intended use, then read FDA's response to that notice.[FDA GRAS notice inventory, search "Schizochytrium"] | FDA's GRAS inventory lists Schizochytrium oils with different responses: "FDA has no questions", "ceased to evaluate" at the notifier's request, and, for one notice, "does not provide a basis for a GRAS determination". A notice number is a fact to check per supplier. |
| DHA and EPA content and basis | Request DHA, and EPA where the strain makes it, in mg per gram with the basis stated (as free fatty acid or triglyceride). In the EU Union list, the 2017 entry for a DHA oil sets at least 32.0% DHA, and Regulation (EU) 2024/2062 sets at least 15% DHA plus at least 10% EPA for a DHA and EPA oil; the list is amended often, so check its current text before relying on either figure.[Commission Implementing Regulation][Commission Implementing Regulation][GOED Monograph, version 9.1] | Grades differ by strain, and the same oil gives a different mg per gram figure on each basis. |
| Oxidation through shelf life | Set peroxide value at most 5 meq/kg, p-anisidine value at most 20 and TOTOX at most 26, met through the end of shelf life (GOED Monograph, voluntary).[GOED Monograph, version 9.1][Commission Implementing Regulation] | GOED's monograph covers EPA and DHA from marine, plant or microbial sources, so its limits apply to refined algal oils; the EU specifications also set peroxide value at most 5.0 meq/kg. |
| Contaminants | Set lead below 0.05 mg/kg and cadmium, mercury and inorganic arsenic each below 0.1 mg/kg (GOED), and ask for the results with the methods.[GOED Monograph, version 9.1] | GOED's contaminant limits apply to oils within its scope, which includes microbial sources. |
| Identity verification | Confirm the manufacturer runs at least one appropriate identity test on each incoming lot, as 21 CFR 111.75(a)(1) requires for every dietary ingredient unless FDA has granted a petition exemption, and that the CoA names the strain.[21 CFR 111.75(a)(1)] | Grades and regulatory status are tied to the strain, so the strain on the CoA is the identity record. |
QC and testing considerations
- Name the shell material on the spec: gelatin is made from animal collagen, so an algal oil softgel sold as vegan or vegetarian needs a non-gelatin shell. [21 CFR 189.5(a)(8)]
- Ask for oxidation results at the end of shelf life as well as at release, because GOED applies its limits throughout the product's stated shelf life. [GOED Monograph, version 9.1]
Further reading: How to read a certificate of analysis and third-party supplement testing.
Government safety conclusions
| Limit or safety conclusion | Population | Source wording |
|---|---|---|
| 1 g/day of supplemental DHA alone (a safe level of intake, not an upper limit) | All population groups; applies to sources with DHA alone or mostly DHA (EPA/DHA ratio below 0.3) (EFSA, 2026) | Based on the available evidence, the Panel retains the safe level of intake of 1 g/day for supplemental DHA alone established in 2012 for all population groups (i.e. infants, children, adolescents and adults, including pregnant and lactating women).[source, read 2026-10-15] |
| 5 g/day of EPA and DHA combined: FDA's safety conclusion, not a cap (FDA considers products above it lawful) | Dietary supplements used as recommended in their labeling (FDA, 2019) | Therefore, we conclude that dietary supplements that provide no more than 5 g/day EPA and DHA when used as recommended or suggested in their labeling are safe and lawful under 21 CFR 101.14(b)(3)(ii).[source, read 2026-10-15] |
Government statements, quoted
Plant-based sources of omega-3s from algal oil usually provide around 100–300 mg DHA; some contain EPA as well. These supplements typically contain omega-3s in the triglyceride form [32].
Because the current scientific evidence does not show that dietary supplements that provide more than 5 g/day EPA and DHA are adulterated under the food safety provisions of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, such products are lawful.
Reference list
- NIH Office of Dietary Supplements, Omega-3 Fatty Acids Health Professional Fact Sheet (updated August 22, 2025) Government reference
- FDA GRAS notice inventory, Schizochytrium algal oils Government reference
- Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/2470 establishing the Union list of novel foods (as published in 2017) Regulatory
- Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/2062 amending the specifications of Schizochytrium sp. oil rich in DHA and EPA Regulatory
- GOED Monograph, version 9.1 (issue date July 23, 2026) Industry standard
- EFSA Scientific Opinion on the tolerable upper intake level for supplemental DHA, EFSA Journal 2026;24(1):e9858 Government reference
- FDA letter on EPA and DHA, Docket No. FDA-2014-Q-1146 (June 2019) Government reference
- 21 CFR 101.36: Nutrition labeling of dietary supplements Regulatory
- 21 CFR 111.75: identity testing of dietary ingredients Regulatory
- 21 CFR 189.5: prohibited cattle materials (definition of gelatin) Regulatory
A reference list is not claim substantiation. Under the FTC's Health Products Compliance Guidance (December 2022), marketing claims about a finished product require competent and reliable scientific evidence, typically randomized, controlled human clinical testing. Responsibility for substantiating product claims rests with the brand.
Manufacturers with stated capability
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Further reading
The decision framework behind this reference: five checkable criteria for choosing between a branded ingredient and its generic form.
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- Anything about efficacy. This is an identity, labeling, and quality reference.
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