Guide
Fish oil without fillers: reading the other ingredients
A softgel needs a shell — ours is gelatin, glycerin and water plus vitamin E as an antioxidant. What "no fillers" means here, and where the vegan option sits instead.
Our fish oil isn't vegan — the softgel shell is gelatin, and the oil itself comes from sardines and anchovies. "No fillers" on this label refers to the absence of added bulking or flow agents, not the softgel shell itself, which every softgel-format supplement needs. If you're specifically looking for a vegan omega-3, algae-based DHA is the plant-derived option; we don't currently carry one.
What's actually in a fish oil softgel
Electric Tiger Omega-3's other ingredients are the softgel itself — gelatin, glycerin and water — and vitamin E. Vitamin E is added as an antioxidant, to slow oxidation of the oil inside the capsule; it's a common, functional addition in fish oil specifically, not a bulking agent. That's the full other-ingredients list: no added fillers, flow agents, artificial colors, or flavors beyond what's on the panel.
What "no fillers" means here, specifically
A "filler" typically means an inert bulking or flow agent added to a tablet or powder-filled capsule — things like maltodextrin, silica or magnesium stearate. A softgel needs some kind of shell material to hold the liquid oil, so gelatin here is doing a structural job, not a filler's job. Our label's "no fillers" claim refers to there being nothing added beyond the shell, glycerin, water and the antioxidant — worth understanding precisely, since "no fillers" can otherwise read as implying an empty capsule, which isn't how any softgel works.
Why this is the one non-vegan product in our range
Every other Electric Tiger product is vegan; this one isn't, on two counts — the oil is derived from fish, and the softgel shell is gelatin, an animal-derived ingredient. We're naming that plainly rather than letting "no fillers" or "non-GMO" on the badge list imply anything about the vegan question, which is a separate one.
Looking for a vegan omega-3?
Algae-based DHA is the common plant-derived alternative — it comes from the same microalgae fish themselves eat to accumulate DHA, without the fish. Most algae oil supplements provide DHA on its own, often with little or no EPA, which is a different profile from a fish oil concentrate's combined EPA and DHA. We don't currently carry an algae-based option.
What about mercury and other contaminants?
Molecular distillation — a processing step that concentrates and purifies the oil — is the common industry method for reducing mercury and other heavy metals in a fish oil concentrate. We don't have a current Certificate of Analysis on file confirming contaminant levels for this specific product; see independent testing for fish oil for what that kind of verification actually checks and why we're naming the gap rather than implying we've closed it.
Questions people ask
How can I get omega-3 without eating fish?
A fish oil supplement still comes from fish, even if you're not eating a fish fillet directly. Algae-based DHA is the option that avoids fish entirely; plant foods like flaxseed, chia and walnuts provide ALA, a different omega-3 the body converts to EPA and DHA only in small amounts. See foods with omega-3 for the fuller list.
Is there an omega-3 supplement without gelatin?
Not ours — our softgel shell is gelatin. Some brands use a plant-based softgel (typically for algae oil, since fish oil is a liquid triglyceride or ethyl ester that still needs a capsule); check the other-ingredients line on any specific product rather than assuming from the front label.
Is there an omega-3 without a fishy taste or burps?
Our softgel doesn't include a flavor-masking coating. Taking it with a meal is the most common practical way people reduce fishy aftertaste and burping — see does fish oil cause diarrhea, gas or an upset stomach for what the safety data says about GI effects generally.
Is fish oil safe if I have a shellfish allergy?
Ours is made from fish (sardines and anchovies), not shellfish. Fish and shellfish allergies are medically distinct, but if you have any seafood allergy, ask an allergist before taking a fish oil supplement rather than assuming it's fine based on the fish/shellfish distinction alone.
Sources
- Electric Tiger Omega-3 Supplement Facts and other ingredients: product page.
Related reading: how to choose a good fish oil, independent testing for fish oil, and fish oil vs krill oil.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
