About GOED

Who We Are

GOED’s purpose is to be the omega-3 industry advocate and knowledge hub. Our mission is to use science-based information to promote the consumption of and enable access to quality EPA & DHA from all sources for a positive impact on public health.

Our 200+ members represent the entire supply chain from fisheries and crude oil suppliers to refiners, concentrators and brands. GOED's extensive network helps members expand and grow their businesses. Our activities focus on maintaining quality standards, educating consumers and healthcare professionals, advancing the science, and advocating for members with governments and NGOs throughout the world. We also offer comprehensive data on the global omega-3 supply chain, consumer market research in 20+ countries, a comprehensive database on all human clinical trials on EPA and DHA and scientific, regulatory and technical expertise.

Our History

The Global Organization for EPA and DHA Omega-3s (GOED) was founded in 2006 as GO3ETA, Inc. Our roots go back to 2000 when industry leaders collaborated to petition the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to establish a heart disease risk reduction claim for omega-3s. These companies later formalized the relationship by creating the Omega-3 Working Group at the Council for Responsible Nutrition and this group developed what is now known as the GOED Monograph. After the working group was dissolved in 2006, 12 of the companies founded GOED with the mandate to grow membership to represent the entire EPA and DHA omega-3 industry.

Our Milestones

GOED is the voice for the omega-3 industry, driving quality standards, scientific integrity and consumer awareness. Here are some of our milestones and achievements throughout the years:


  1. 2006

    GOED founded, quality monograph created

    A group of industry leaders formed GOED and established the GOED Monograph quality standard for members to follow.

  2. 2007

    Omega-3 Learning Consortium at Purdue University created to educate HCPs, consumers and the media.

  3. 2008

    GOED’s feedback contributed to changes in EU hygiene regulations, including provisions relevant to fish oil.

  4. 2009

    GOED petitioned for omega-3 DRI

    GOED and other organizations petitioned the Institute of Medicine (IOM) to establish Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) for EPA & DHA in Canada and the United States.

  5. 2011

    EU Article 13 health claims authorized for use

    GOED submitted dossiers to the European Commission to support the establishment of omega-3 related Article 13 health claims.

  6. 2012

    GOED established the Randomized Testing Program to test finished products from GOED members.

  7. 2014

    China DRIs for EPA and DHA omega‑3s established

    GOED’s symposium with the Chinese Nutrition Society helped support the development of China’s EPA/DHA DRIs.

    GOED submitted a DRI nomination, which resulted in EPA and DHA being named priority nutrients.

    Consumer coalition campaign launched

    GOED led a US consumer campaign that increased sales in the US market and created AlwaysOmega3s and health professional outreach programs.

    GOED submitted a proposal to Codex to establish a nutrient reference value (NRV) for EPA+DHA.

  8. 2015

    Codex Alimentarius Commission Observer status granted.

  9. 2016

    GOED published papers addressing inaccurate oxidation research.

  10. Codex standard for fish oils adopted

    GOED had significant input into the standard, which has great importance for the omega-3 industry.

    2017

    GOED published global intake recommendations

    GOED formally recommended that healthy adults aim for at least 500 mg of EPA+DHA per day to support cardiovascular health.

    As a result of an appeal from GOED, Indonesia raised upper limits on EPA/DHA supplements.

  11. 2019

    Qualified health claim permitted for use in the US

    A GOED health claim petition resulted in a qualified health claim for EPA and DHA and the reduction of blood pressure and risk of hypertension.

  12. 2020

    Meta-analysis linking omega-3 dosage to improved cardiovascular benefits published

    GOED published a seminal meta-analysis on omega-3 dosage and cardiovascular outcomes showing a linear dose-effect relationship.

  13. 2022

    GOED’s Clinical Study Database (CSD) launched. The database includes all published human interventional studies on EPA and DHA omega-3s.

  14. 2023

    Global Omega-3 Day™ re-imagined

    GOED trademarked Global Omega-3 Day™ and made March 3 an annual call to action for EPA/DHA awareness.

  15. 2024

    Codex approved work on standard for microbial omega-3 oils

    A GOED proposal to establish a standard for microbial omega-3 oils was accepted by the Codex Alimentarius Commission.

    2025

    GOED introduced the Global Omega-3 Navigator and Contaminants Scorecard to help members navigate global requirements and monitor emerging contaminants.

  16. 2026

    Omega-3 life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology published

    A GOED-commissioned white paper providing an LCA methodology for all omega-3 sources was published.

    Supply Chain Navigator launched. GOED launched an interactive online tool for navigating and understanding the range of companies that participate in supplying the omega-3 industry.