Frequently Asked Questions

To the best of our knowledge, toxicity from cod liver oil has never been documented.  Synthetic vitamin A and D on the other hand are toxic and cases of toxicity have been reported.  If you're looking at other brands please find out EXACTLY how they process their oil. ALL other commercial brands remove natural vitamins A and D during processing then add back in low levels or synthetic (even worse) vitamins - AVOID THESE!  See this article.  Nature has provided natural cod liver as a safe vitamin A and D supplement without human interference.

Recommended daily doses of vitamins A and D from fermented cod liver oil based on recommendations from the Weston A Price Foundation are:

• Children age 3 months to 12 years: 1/2 teaspoon or 2.5 mL, providing 4650 IU vitamin A and 975 IU vitamin D
• Children over 12 years and adults: 1 teaspoon or 10 capsules, providing 9500 IU vitamin A and 1950 IU vitamin D
• Pregnant and nursing women: 2 teaspoon or 20 capsules, providing 19,000 IU vitamin A and 3900 IU vitamin D

Please note that these recommended doses are 2-5 times greater than the U.S. RDA for children, 4 times greater than the U.S. RDA for adults and 8 times greater than the U.S. RDA for pregnant women. The RDA values are based on studies conducted in the general population, which is now recognized to be largely deficient in vitamin D
Note that these levels are considerably higher than the recommended doses stated on the product containers.
Click here for a good article on cod liver oil doses and toxicity

Cod liver oil is essential for mother and baby’s health.

Pregnant women using cod liver oil have infants with a lower risk for juvenile type 1 diabetes.  Cod liver oil taken by nursing mothers improves the fatty acid profile in breast milk to promote optimal brain development and also increases levels of vitamin A to prevent infections. 

Pregnant women may wish to consult their health practitioner about taking cod liver oil during pregnancy

Absolutely. In fact it’s essential.

• Infants should receive at least 400 IU of vitamin D per day from all food sources to protect against overt vitamin D deficiency.
• Infants can obtain vitamin D from breast milk, sunshine and supplements such as cod liver oil.
• Breast milk can be a poor source of vitamin D or an excellent source of vitamin D, depending on the mother's intake (mothers should supplement with vitamin D)
• We would recommend using the children’s dosages guide on the bottle as a minimum.

Here’s a chart showing the roles how growing bodies use vitamins A, D, and K (which are in high levels in Green Pasture cod liver oil):

Also see the question about storage below. Green Pasture fermented cod liver oil very thick and more stable than lower lighter grade cod liver used by other companies.  Remember that this is fermented cod liver oil - so rancidity isn't a problem.  Green Pasture fermented oils are not mass produced with high heat like other cod liver oils.  batches are tested for purity and active ingredients regularly with great results.

Once you open your cod liver oil it should be stored in fridge.  Make sure you keep your oil in a cool dark cool place out of direct sunlight.

 

The cod used to make Green Pasture products is fished from the Arctic Ocean which is known to have low levels of pollution. All products are tested according to protocols of the Association of Analytical Communities (AOAC) and approved free of detectable levels of 32 contaminants. We guarantee this product to be free of contaminants including mercury. Furthermore, mercury is water soluble.  It may be present in the flesh of fish, but not present in the oil (yet another advantage of using liver oil).