From the archive: What are the hidden costs of our obsession with fish oil pills?

Science Weekly

The Guardian

Science

4.2 • 1K Ratings

🗓️ 16 August 2022

⏱️ 17 minutes

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Summary

They may be one of the world’s favourite supplements but, according to a study from earlier this year, more than one in 10 fish oil capsules are rancid. Most of the oil comes from Peruvian anchovetas, a type of anchovy that is also used to feed pigs, poultry and farmed fish. And despite catching more than 4m tonnes a year of anchovetas to cater to the global demand, large industry players want to scale this up even further. In this episode from January 2022, Madeleine Finlay speaks to environment journalist Richa Syal about why so many fish oil pills are rancid, and hears from journalist Dan Collyns in Chimbote, Peru, about how the industry is affecting the local environment and its residents. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/sciencepod

Transcript

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0:00.0	This is the Guardian.
0:10.0	Hello, Madeline here. Hello, Madeline here.
0:12.0	The Science Weekly team are away on there some holidays, so we've
0:16.1	picked a few of our favourite episodes from the year so far to revisit. Today we're
0:20.9	going back to a story on fish oil supplements. These are hugely popular, but as this episode
0:27.0	revealed, we may not be getting what we bargained for when we take these pills.
0:32.0	I hope you enjoy it.
0:34.0	They're one of the world's most popular dietary supplements.
0:41.0	Said buy some at least, to be good for your eyes, skin, heart, and brain.
0:47.0	Americans spend over $1.2 billion a year on these supplements in hopes of protecting their heart, boosting their brain, and achieving more youthful skin.
0:56.0	What am I talking about?
0:57.0	Omega-3 supplements, specifically fish oil.
1:01.0	Fish oil capsules, filled with omega-3 fatty acids are supposed to be a
1:06.4	handy alternative for people who don't really like eating fish. But behind these wondrous health claims, there's a billion-dollar
1:17.0	industry mining one of the most productive marine ecosystems on earth.
1:29.0	4 million tons of Peruvian anchovies, a type of anchovy, are caught every year to feed pigs, poultry, farmed fish and to create supplements for us.
1:38.0	Unsurprisingly, this is often done in a way that's damaging to people and the environment.
1:44.4	David Castro is a union leader who represents Peruvian fishermen.
1:52.4	He gets melancholic when he overlooks the bay of Timbote,
1:56.0	Peru's main fishing port.
1:58.0	And on top of all that,
2:02.0	the supplements we take are often rancid.
	...

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