You take a fish oil capsule with breakfast and get on with your morning. Then, just when you've forgotten about it, that unmistakable fishy taste returns. It's frustrating. Does it mean the oil has gone bad?
Why does fish oil make you burp? Fish oil can leave a fishy aftertaste when flavour from the capsule's contents comes back up during an ordinary burp. Some people also experience heartburn or reflux. Neither experience is pleasant, but a fishy burp on its own does not prove your fish oil is rancid.
Why does fish oil make you burp in the first place?
As a fish oil softgel moves through digestion, it releases oil with its own distinctive flavour. If some of that flavour comes back up when you burp, you can notice a fishy repeat long after swallowing the capsule.
You might not taste fish when swallowing the softgel, yet notice it later. Experiences differ: one person barely notices an aftertaste, while another finds it enough to put them off their next capsule.
A fishy aftertaste isn't necessarily reflux. Fish oil reflux may involve heartburn, acidity or discomfort in your chest or throat. Persistent burning deserves more attention than a passing taste.
Taking fish oil with or just after food may make burping and reflux less noticeable for some people. That's a straightforward place to begin, provided it follows the directions on your own bottle. If the fishy repeat still bothers you, the formulation you choose next may also matter.
Does a fishy burp mean your fish oil is no longer fresh?
It's understandable to wonder about freshness when you suddenly taste fish. But fish oil freshness and fishy burps are two different questions. Omega-3 oils contain delicate fats that can oxidise over time, especially with exposure to air, heat and light. Oxidation is a genuine quality consideration, but a fishy burp cannot tell you whether it has happened.
Pay more attention if a product is past its expiry date, its capsules are damaged or leaking, the bottle has been stored against its label directions, or the oil has a strongly rancid smell. In those situations, don't simply keep taking it and hope for the best. Check the packaging and ask us or your pharmacist if you're unsure.
Flavouring and deodorising are designed to make a supplement more pleasant to take. They are not tests of freshness. Likewise, purification and contaminant testing address different quality questions from oxidation or aftertaste.
We want you to feel clear about these differences, not worried by every burp. For a closer look at one part of the quality story, read what micro-distilled fish oil means.
What makes a fish oil easier to feel confident about buying?
If your current capsules leave you with fishy burps, consider more than a bold promise about taste when choosing another bottle.
Does it include a deodorising feature intended to reduce fishy repeat? Orange flavour isn't a promise that reflux will disappear, but an explained deodorising feature is worth considering when taste is your main frustration.
Look for EPA and DHA amounts. The biggest fish oil number on the label isn't necessarily how much EPA and DHA you get. We think your actual daily serving matters more.
We also want clear information about purification and testing for impurities, plus serving directions that are easy to follow.
That's the thinking behind our Super Fish Oil 2XP Omega 3. If you'd like to see the options first, take a look at our fish oil collection.
Why we designed Super Fish Oil 2XP to offer more than an orange-flavoured capsule
With our Super Fish Oil 2XP Omega 3, we bring together three things we value: aftertaste comfort, clear omega-3 amounts and thoughtful quality controls.
A little more thought about fishy repeat
We deodorise our fish oil with natural orange oil to help reduce fishy breath and repeat. It's a practical feature if unpleasant aftertaste has put you off taking your capsules.
Deodorising can't promise zero burps or prevent acid reflux. But if the lingering taste is your main complaint, we think this feature is worth trying.
EPA and DHA you can see clearly
Each one-capsule daily serving of Super Fish Oil 2XP provides 360 mg EPA and 240 mg DHA. That's 600 mg of combined EPA and DHA in the serving. These are the two important omega-3 fats we want you to be able to spot without guessing.
Our formula contains 1,000 mg purified natural fish oil, with a separate equivalent-to-2,000-mg-fish-oil statement. Neither figure is the EPA and DHA amount. We want you to know what you're actually getting.
If you'd like a little more help understanding labels, we've also explained how to read EPA and DHA on a fish oil label.
Quality details that matter to us
We source our fish oil from wild-caught cold-water fish from a sustainably managed natural resource. The oil is micro distilled and comprehensively tested for impurities, including mercury, other heavy metals and pesticides.
These quality-control features don't guarantee freshness or determine whether you'll burp, but they tell you more about the care behind the formula.
With natural orange-oil deodorising, clear EPA and DHA amounts and simple directions, Super Fish Oil 2XP is an option we're pleased to offer when you're ready to move on from an unpleasant fish oil experience.
When you're ready to try a different fish oil
Whether you're tired of fishy repeats yourself or helping a parent choose a bottle, we think Super Fish Oil 2XP deserves a closer look.
Our softgels are designed to be easy to swallow. Take one capsule daily with food, or as professionally prescribed. The deodorised formula is intended to make taking fish oil more pleasant.
Each bottle contains 365 capsules, a full year's supply at the standard one-a-day direction. That's convenient if you prefer not to replace a smaller bottle so often.
Everyone's tolerance differs, but the formula and directions are clear.
A sensible note about reflux and medicines
A fishy taste is one thing; ongoing burning, pain or worsening digestive symptoms are another. If reflux keeps happening, or you notice significant discomfort, speak with your pharmacist or GP rather than trying to cover up the symptoms with a different flavour. Seek prompt medical help for a suspected serious allergic reaction.
Please check with a healthcare professional before taking fish oil if you use anticoagulant or antiplatelet medicines, have a bleeding disorder or heart-rhythm concerns, have a seafood allergy, have surgery planned or have been given a specific omega-3 dose. Our product carries a pre-surgery stopping precaution, so read the current label and follow advice from your surgical team. Don't change prescribed medicines or doses yourself.
Common questions about fish oil burps
Why does fish oil make you burp after taking it?
Fish oil can leave a fishy taste when flavour from the capsule's contents comes back up with an ordinary burp during digestion. It doesn't happen to everyone, and the experience may differ between formulas. Taking fish oil with food may help some people.
Does a fishy aftertaste mean the fish oil has gone bad?
No, not by itself. A fishy burp cannot show whether fish oil has oxidised. Check the expiry date, capsule condition and storage directions, and take a strongly rancid smell seriously. If you're worried about a bottle, ask us or your pharmacist before continuing.
Is fish oil reflux different from ordinary fishy burps?
Yes. A fishy burp may leave an unpleasant taste without burning. Reflux can cause burning, acidity or discomfort around the chest or throat. If those symptoms persist, worsen or become troublesome, it's sensible to ask a pharmacist or GP for advice.
Does deodorised fish oil stop fishy burps completely?
No formulation can guarantee that. Our Super Fish Oil 2XP is deodorised with natural orange oil to help reduce fishy repeat and breath, which may make it more appealing if aftertaste bothers you. Deodorising is not a treatment for acid reflux.
What should I look for if I want a fish oil with less fishy aftertaste?
Look for a clearly stated deodorising feature, then check the actual EPA and DHA per serving, quality information and directions for taking it with food. Our Super Fish Oil 2XP combines natural orange-oil deodorising with 600 mg of EPA and DHA in a one-capsule daily serving.
When should I ask a pharmacist or GP about fish oil side effects?
Ask if reflux keeps returning, digestive symptoms worsen or you suspect an allergy. Get advice before taking fish oil if you use blood-thinning or antiplatelet medicines, have a bleeding disorder or heart-rhythm concerns, have surgery planned or follow a clinician-directed omega-3 dose.
Choose an omega-3 you can feel confident taking
A fishy burp doesn't automatically mean bad fish oil. But it's a good reason to look for a formula that suits you better, with clear information rather than a big promise.
Our Super Fish Oil 2XP brings together natural orange-oil deodorising, clearly stated EPA and DHA, micro-distillation, contaminant testing and a straightforward one-capsule daily serving. If you're ready to make a change, we'd love you to explore it as your next omega-3.
