Menhaden oils

Menhaden oils are the commercial fish oils rendered from menhaden, prized for their rich content of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, especially EPA and DHA. After extraction they are refined, bleached, and deodorized to remove off-flavors, pigments, and contaminants before use in dietary supplements, fortified foods, and aquaculture feeds. Because the oils are highly unsaturated, they oxidize quickly, so processors protect them with antioxidants such as tocopherols, nitrogen blanketing during storage, and cold storage. Quality laboratories monitor peroxide and anisidine values as indicators of primary and secondary oxidation, and refiners test for heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants to confirm the oils meet food-grade specifications before sale.