Recent analyses by White Plains, NY-based ConsumerLab.com found that 14 of 16 plant seed oil products selected for testing contained what was stated on labels. The researchers examined various flaxseed, black currant, borage and evening primrose oils as part of its new report, “Flaxseed Oil, Evening Primrose Oil, Borage Oil, and Black Currant Oil Supplements: Sources of ALA and GLA (Omega-3 and -6 Fatty Acids).”
 
One of the supplements reviewed was found to completely lack the omega-6 fatty acid GLA (gamma-linolenic acid), indicating that it didn't contain a plant oil it promised. Another product mislabeled its amount of oleic acid, an omega-9 fatty acid.
 
ConsumerLab.com noted that flaxseed oil is rich in the omega-3 fatty acid ALA (alpha-linoleic acid), while black currant, borage, and evening primrose oils are good sources of the omega-6 fatty acid GLA. Supplements containing these oils are used in treating a variety of inflammatory diseases and other conditions.
 
In addition to testing each product for omega-3 and -6 fatty acids, ConsumerLab.com tested for freshness and potential heavy metal contamination (lead, arsenic and cadmium). ConsumerLab.com found that, among top-quality products, a consumer could obtain 200 mg of GLA for as little as 11 cents and 500 mg of ALA for just 2 cents.
 
Test results and comparisons of the 16 products selected by ConsumerLab.com for testing, as well as for 10 supplements which passed the same testing through ConsumerLab.com's voluntary Quality Certification Program, are provided in the new report. The report, which includes information about the uses, dosage, and potential side-effects of these seed oil supplements, covers the following products, including two products for pets and two products similar to one which passed testing:
 
·      Barlean's Omega Twin
·      Carlson Golden Primrose
·      CVS/pharmacy Flaxseed Oil
·      Finest Nutrition (Walgreens) Flaxseed Oil
·      HALO Purely For Pets Dream Coat
·      Health from the Sun Organic Evening Primrose Oil
·      Jarrow Formulas Borage GLA-240
·      Life Extension Mega GLA with Sesame Lignans
·      Nature Made Flaxseed Oil 
·      Nature's Bounty Evening Primrose Oil
·      Nature's Sunshine Evening Primrose Oil
·      Nature's Way EfaGold Borage 
·      NOW Evening Primrose Oil
·      NutriCology GLA Borage Oil
·      Optimum Nutrition Flaxseed Oil
·      PetNaturals of Vermont Daily Best for Dogs
·      Puritan's Pride Natural Flax Oil
·      Rexall Flaxseed Oil
·      Rite Aid Omega 3-6-9
·      ScienceBased Health HydroEye
·      Simply Right (Sam's Club) Flaxseed Oil
·      Solgar Evening Primrose Oil
·      Spectrum Essentials Borage Oil
·      Spring Valley (Walmart) Flaxseed Oil
·      Standard Process Linum B6
·      Vitacost Flaxseed Oil
·      Vitamin Shoppe Flax Seed Oil
·      Vitamin World Flax Oil