Krill oil
lipid extract of Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba), with EPA and DHA mainly as phospholipids
Omega 3Ingredient formSources last checked: October 15, 2026
Medical & Industry Advisor: Dr. James Pendleton, ND
Answer
Access
- Access model
- Open market
What it is
- Krill oil is a lipid extract of Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba), a crustacean. It carries the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA mainly as phospholipids, where conventional fish oil supplements carry them as triglycerides or ethyl esters. The EU authorizes it under the name "Lipid extract from the crustacean Antarctic Krill (Euphausia superba)". [NIH Office of Dietary Supplements, Omega-3 Fatty Acids fact sheet][Commission Implementing Regulation]
Forms compared
How krill oil compares with related forms on a spec sheet and a label.
| Form | Declared on the label as | Content | Identity check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Krill oil (lipid extract), EU specification | In the EU, "Lipid extract from the crustacean Antarctic Krill (Euphausia superba)"; in the US, the oil by weight per serving with EPA and DHA beneath it | Phospholipids at least 35% and below 60%, EPA at least 9%, DHA at least 5%, peroxide value at most 3 meq O2/kg oil (specification as replaced by Regulation (EU) 2019/108)[Commission Implementing Regulation, 2026-10-15] | Phospholipid content and EPA and DHA percentages on the CoA, against these figures |
| Krill oil rich in phospholipids, EU specification (2017 entry) | In the EU, "Lipid extract from the crustacean Antarctic Krill (Euphausia superba)"; in the US, the oil by weight per serving with EPA and DHA beneath it | Phospholipids at least 60%, with EPA at least 9% and DHA at least 5% (EU Union list entry as published in 2017)[Commission Implementing Regulation, 2026-10-15] | Phospholipid content on the CoA at or above 60% |
| Conventional fish oil, for comparison | Fish oil, with EPA and DHA listed by amount per serving | EPA and DHA as natural triglycerides, ethyl esters or re-esterified triglycerides[NIH Office of Dietary Supplements, Omega-3 Fatty Acids fact sheet, 2026-10-15] | The species on the CoA; lipid class alone does not establish the source |
On the Supplement Facts label
Krill is a crustacean shellfish, one of the major food allergens, and FDA applies the allergen labeling rule (section 403(w) of the FD&C Act) to ingredients used in dietary supplements. A highly refined oil (refined, bleached and deodorized) from a major food allergen is exempt from that rule; an oil that is not highly refined must declare its source, and for crustacean shellfish the rule calls for the species. Whether a given krill oil is highly refined is a question for your regulatory provider. Separately, the general ingredient rules make the source part of every oil's name in the ingredient list. On the Supplement Facts panel, krill oil has no Daily Value, so it is listed by weight per serving, and EPA and DHA may be listed indented beneath it.[FDA, Questions and Answers Regarding Food Allergens, 2026-10-15][21 U.S.C. 321(qq) and 343(w), 2026-10-15][21 CFR 101.36(b)(3)(iii) and 101.36(b)(3)(iv), 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Phospholipids, EPA and DHA | Request phospholipid content and EPA and DHA as percentages on the CoA, with the methods. In the EU Union list, Regulation (EU) 2019/108 sets krill lipid extract at phospholipids at least 35% and below 60%, EPA at least 9% and DHA at least 5%, and the 2017 entry for the phospholipid-rich grade sets at least 60% phospholipids; the list is amended often, so check its current text before relying on either figure.[Commission Implementing Regulation][Commission Implementing Regulation] | Phospholipid share is how the two EU krill grades differ and what sets krill oil apart from conventional fish oils on a spec; the species on the CoA is still the identity record. |
| Astaxanthin | Ask for astaxanthin in mg per serving and whether it is native to the oil or added.[EFSA Journal] | Esterified astaxanthin is a native component of krill lipid extract: the specification EFSA assessed in 2009 lists 150-190 mg per 100 g. A declared amount needs that basis stated. |
| Oxidation and acid value | Agree peroxide value and acid value limits for krill oil specifically, with the methods. The EU specification as replaced by Regulation (EU) 2019/108 sets peroxide value at most 3 meq O2/kg oil. GOED's oxidation limits for fish oil are not the benchmark here: its monograph excludes minimally processed oils rich in phospholipids.[EFSA Journal][GOED Monograph, version 9.1][Commission Implementing Regulation] | Krill oil carries free fatty acids naturally: EFSA's 2009 opinion reports an acid value of 25.7-32.4 mg KOH/g for the extract it assessed, against a typical fish oil specification of 0-5 mg KOH/g, so fish oil acid-value limits do not transfer. |
| Arsenic speciation | Ask for inorganic arsenic as a separate result, not only total arsenic.[EFSA Journal] | The specification EFSA assessed limits inorganic arsenic to below 0.1 mg/kg, while the applicant stated the extract may contain up to 10 mg/kg of total arsenic; EFSA notes the predominant form in shellfish-derived products is organic. |
| 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 states the species, Euphausia superba.[21 CFR 111.75(a)(1)][FDA, Questions and Answers Regarding Food Allergens] | The species is part of both the identity record and the allergen declaration. |
QC and testing considerations
- Krill oil is a phospholipid oil with naturally high free fatty acids, so fish oil oxidation and acid-value limits should not be applied to it unchanged; agree the limits and methods for this oil with the supplier. [GOED Monograph, version 9.1, scope][EFSA Journal]
- Settle whether the oil is highly refined in the label review before the first production run: it decides whether the allergen rule's source and species declaration applies. [FDA, Questions and Answers Regarding Food Allergens]
Further reading: How to read a certificate of analysis and third-party supplement testing.
Government safety conclusion
| Limit or safety conclusion | Population | Source wording |
|---|---|---|
| 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
Krill oil contains omega-3s primarily as phospholipids.
Section 403(w) of the FD&C Act applies to ingredients used to make dietary supplements that are or contain a major food allergen.
It also requires that the species be declared for fish (e.g., bass, flounder, cod) and Crustacean shellfish (e.g., crab, lobster, shrimp) (section 403(w)(2) of the FD&C Act).
Highly refined oils, which are intended to signify refined, bleached, deodorized oils, that are derived from major food allergens are exempt from section 403(w) of the FD&C Act.
If an oil that is derived from a major food allergen is not highly refined, then the source of the oil must be declared on the label in accordance with section 403(w) of the FD&C Act.
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
- FDA, Questions and Answers Regarding Food Allergens, Including the Food Allergen Labeling Requirements of the FD&C Act (Edition 5): Guidance for Industry, January 2025 Government reference
- 21 U.S.C. 321(qq) (major food allergen) and 343(w) (allergen labeling) Regulatory
- 21 CFR 101.36: Nutrition labeling of dietary supplements Regulatory
- 21 CFR 111.75: identity testing of dietary ingredients Regulatory
- Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/2470 establishing the Union list of novel foods (as published in 2017) Regulatory
- Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/108 changing the specifications of lipid extract from Antarctic krill Regulatory
- EFSA Scientific Opinion on the safety of lipid extract from Euphausia superba as a novel food ingredient, EFSA Journal (2009) 938 Government reference
- FDA letter on EPA and DHA, Docket No. FDA-2014-Q-1146 (June 2019) Government reference
- NIH Office of Dietary Supplements, Omega-3 Fatty Acids Health Professional Fact Sheet (updated August 22, 2025) Government reference
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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