StacksVerified U.S. regulatory reference

21 CFR §184.1472

Verified against eCFR.gov as of June 20, 2026View official text on eCFR.gov ↗
  1. (a)Menhaden oil.
    1. (1)Menhaden oil is prepared from fish of the genus Brevoortia, commonly known as menhaden, by cooking and pressing. The resulting crude oil is then refined using the following steps: Storage (winterization), degumming (optional), neutralization, bleaching, and deodorization. Winterization may separate the oil and produce a solid fraction.
    2. (2)Menhaden oil meets the following specifications:
      1. (i)Color and state. Yellow liquid to white solid.
      2. (ii)Odor. Odorless to slightly fishy.
      3. (iii)Saponification value. Between 180 and 200 as determined by the American Oil Chemists' Society Official Method Cd 3-25—“Saponification Value” (reapproved 1989), which is incorporated by reference in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. Copies of this publication are available from the Office of Food Additive Safety, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (HFS-200), Food and Drug Administration, 5001 Campus Dr., College Park, MD 20740, or available for inspection at the Dockets Management Staff (HFA-305), Food and Drug Administration, 5630 Fishers Lane, Rm. 1061, Rockville, MD 20852, 240-402-7500, between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, or at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this material at NARA, call 202-741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html.
      4. (iv)Iodine number. Not less than 120 as determined by the American Oil Chemists' Society Recommended Practice Cd 1d-92—“Iodine Value of Fats and Oils, Cyclohexane—Acetic Acid Method,” which is incorporated by reference in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. The availability of this incorporation by reference is given in paragraph (a)(2)(iii) of this section.
      5. (v)Unsaponifiable matter. Not more than 1.5 percent as determined by the American Oil Chemists' Society Official Method Ca 6b-53—“Unsaponifiable Matter” (reapproved 1989), which is incorporated by reference in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. The availability of this incorporation by reference is given in paragraph (a)(2)(iii) of this section.
      6. (vi)Free fatty acids. Not more than 0.1 percent as determined by the American Oil Chemists' Society Official Method Ca 5a-40—“Free Fatty Acids” (reapproved 1989), which is incorporated by reference in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. The availability of this incorporation by reference is given in paragraph (a)(2)(iii) of this section.
      7. (vii)Peroxide value. Not more than 5 milliequivalents per kilogram of oil as determined by the American Oil Chemists' Society Official Method Cd 8-53—“Peroxide Value, Acetic Acid—Chloroform Method” (updated 1992) or Recommended Practice Cd 8b-90—“Peroxide Value, Acetic Acid—Isooctane Method” (updated 1992), which are incorporated by reference in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. The availability of this incorporation by reference is given in paragraph (a)(2)(iii) of this section.
      8. (viii)Lead. Not more than 0.1 part per million as determined by the American Oil Chemists' Society Official Method Ca 18c-91—“Determination of Lead by Direct Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrometry” (revised 1992), which is incorporated by reference in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. The availability of this incorporation by reference is given in paragraph (a)(2)(iii) of this section.
      9. (ix)Mercury. Not more than 0.5 part per million as determined by the method entitled “Biomedical Test Materials Program: Analytical Methods for the Quality Assurance of Fish Oil,” published in the “NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-SEFC-211,” F. M. Van Dolah and S. B. Galloway, editors, National Marine Fisheries Service, U. S. Department of Commerce, pages 71-88, November, 1988, which is incorporated by reference in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. The availability of this incorporation by reference is given in paragraph (a)(2)(iii) of this section.
    3. (3)In accordance with § 184.1(b)(2), the ingredient may be used in food only within the following specific limitations to ensure that total intake of eicosapentaenoic acid or docosahexaenoic acid does not exceed 3.0 grams/person/day:
    4. (4)To ensure safe use of the substance, menhaden oil shall not be used in combination with any other added oil that is a significant source of eicosapentaenoic acid or docosahexaenoic acid.
  2. (b)Hydrogenated menhaden oil.
    1. (1)Hydrogenated menhaden oil is prepared by feeding hydrogen gas under pressure to a converter containing crude menhaden oil and a nickel catalyst. The reaction is begun at 150 to 160 °C and after 1 hour the temperature is raised to 180 °C until the menhaden oil is fully hydrogenated.
    2. (2)Hydrogenated menhaden oil meets the following specifications:
      1. (i)Color. Opaque white solid.
      2. (ii)Odor. Odorless.
      3. (iii)Saponification value. Between 180 and 200.
      4. (iv)Iodine number. Not more than 4.
      5. (v)Unsaponifiable matter. Not more than 1.5 percent.
      6. (vi)Free fatty acids. Not more than 0.1 percent.
      7. (vii)Peroxide value. Not more than 5 milliequivalents per kilogram of oil.
      8. (viii)Nickel. Not more than 0.5 part per million.
      9. (ix)Mercury. Not more than 0.5 part per million.
      10. (x)Arsenic (as As). Not more than 0.1 part per million.
      11. (xi)Lead. Not more than 0.1 part per million.
    3. (3)Hydrogenated menhaden oil is used as edible fat or oil, as defined in § 170.3(n)(12) of this chapter, in food at levels not to exceed current good manufacturing practice.
    4. (4)The name to be used on the label of a product containing hydrogenated menhaden oil must include the term “hydrogenated,” in accordance with § 101.4(b)(14) of this chapter.