How long can fish oil pills be stored?

Question

I found a bottle of fish oil pills that I had purchased last year. Are they still good? Are they safe to consume, I mean...?

Answer 1

Hi quality fish oil will last over 6 months in the refrigerator.

Answer 2

Store your supplements improperly and they'll break down and lose their potency. Here's how to keep them fully charged:

* Leave them in the bottles they came in. Most are opaque and keep light out.

* Store the jars or bottles in a dark, dry place--not your bathroom cabinet. After light, heat is the primary force for triggering chemical breakdowns.

* Keep the lids closed tightly to keep out excess humidity.

* Don't throw out the small white packets that come in some bottles. They're desiccants, and they absorb the moisture that would otherwise attack your pills and reduce their effectiveness.

* A few supplements need special care: Fish oil and probiotics break down at room temperature and need to be stored in the refrigerator. SAMe should be kept tightly capped in your freezer.

* Keep an eye on expiration dates. Most supplements become much less effective the older they get.

Answer 3

Unless they were sealed and keep at or below room temp, just pitch them. Fish oil is cheap and rancid oils are worse than no oil. Think trans-fats.

Answer 4

Were they stored in the fridge ??  A really good brand like Nordic Naturals will probably be OK.  The  way to tell is cut one open and if it has a fishy smell then pitch them.  That is one of the same way to tell a good fish oil if it smells that means it is getting rotten