Menhaden Oil

The menhaden reduction industry harvests fish to make meal, oil and fish solubles. Cooking and pressing release crude oil. A regulation for human-food menhaden oil describes further refining, though it does not specify every pet-food supplier's process.^9,10

1. 01 // Source Whole menhaden Fish arrive at a reduction plant that makes fish meal, oil and fish solubles.
2. 02 // Process Cooked and pressed Cooking and pressing release crude oil from the fish; the remaining solids enter the meal stream.
3. 03 // Process Oil refined For human-food oil, the regulation describes winterization, optional degumming, neutralization, bleaching and deodorization.
4. 04 // Output Menhaden oil The resulting liquid fat is supplied as a separate ingredient for food makers to add to recipes.

1. 01

   Adds marine omega-3s

   Menhaden oil supplies EPA and DHA directly. In controlled dog feeding trials, higher amounts of fish oil fatty acids in food raised their blood concentrations.^1,2,7

2. 02

   Adds dietary fat

   The oil contributes fat and energy. It does not supply the fish protein and minerals that remain with the meal.^7,9,10

3. 03

   Draws on existing supply

   NOAA reports that Atlantic menhaden have the largest landings by volume on the US Atlantic coast. Reduction makes oil alongside meal and solubles from that catch, a supply chain already in place for the oil.¹⁰

4. 04

   Separates two products

   Processing lets a maker add marine fat without adding fish meal. Each appears under its own ingredient name, giving the recipe separate fat and protein inputs.^7,10

How much A 12-week trial fed 7 g of menhaden oil with a basal diet; ordinary kibble inclusion amounts were not reported.⁵

1. Brands say

   Delivers EPA and DHA dogs absorb

   Evidence

   1. Strong
   2. Some
   3. Thin
   4. None

   In a randomized trial completed by 177 dogs, blood EPA and DHA rose with their concentrations in food. A separate 127-dog trial also found higher blood omega-3 levels. The ingredient list still gives no dose.^1,2

2. Brands say

   Eases pain in arthritic dogs

   Outruns the evidence

   Evidence

   1. Strong
   2. Some
   3. Thin
   4. None

   A 177-dog therapeutic diet trial found modest improvements, and a 127-dog trial found some owner-reported gains. A 77-dog placebo trial found no difference in its main outcomes. An oil listing cannot promise pain relief.^1,2,3

3. Brands say

   Stops itching and makes coats glossy

   Outruns the evidence

   Evidence

   1. Strong
   2. Some
   3. Thin
   4. None

   In a 16-dog crossover trial, high-dose marine oil improved itching and coat scores against corn oil. Those dogs had skin disease, and the study did not test small amounts in everyday kibble or healthy dogs.⁴

4. Owners say

   Menhaden oil is full of mercury

   Outruns the evidence

   Evidence

   1. Strong
   2. Some
   3. Thin
   4. None

   Researchers tested 11 dog fish oil supplements at two time points and detected no mercury or PCBs. None was identified as pure menhaden oil, so the results cannot certify every supplier, but the blanket claim has no support.¹²