Green-lipped mussel oil
Green-lipped mussel oil suppliers and sourcing guide
Green-lipped mussel oil is a lipid extract from Perna canaliculus, a mussel farmed in New Zealand. The mussel meat is freeze-dried and the lipids are extracted, commonly with supercritical CO2, giving a small-volume oil that contains a mix of fatty acids (including EPA and DHA), sterols and other lipids. It is usually blended with a carrier oil such as olive oil and sold in bulk for softgels.
- Category
- Oils and fats
- Also known as
- Perna canaliculus oil · Green-lipped mussel lipid extract · Greenshell mussel oil
- Facts checked
- November 2026
Forms and grades of green-lipped mussel oil
Suppliers sell different products under the same name. Specify the one you need.
CO2-extracted lipid extract
Oil extracted from freeze-dried mussel powder with supercritical CO2, the usual premium grade.
Diluted softgel blends
Extract blended with olive oil or another carrier oil, sometimes with added vitamin E, at a stated extract content.
Freeze-dried mussel powder
The whole-mussel powder the oil comes from, sold separately for capsules.
What to check on the COA
Compare each result with your own specification when the lot arrives.
- Fatty acid profile
- Fatty acids by GC, including EPA and DHA, reported as percent of total fatty acids.
- Peroxide and anisidine values
- Peroxide value (AOCS Cd 8b-90) for primary oxidation and p-anisidine value for secondary oxidation, often combined as TOTOX; these show how fresh the oil is at release.
- Dioxins, PCBs and metals
- Dioxins, furans and dioxin-like PCBs by GC-HRMS, plus lead, cadmium, mercury and arsenic by ICP-MS; this is the standard contaminant panel for marine oils.
- Marine biotoxins
- Paralytic, amnesic and diarrhetic shellfish toxins on the raw material, which suppliers should confirm from harvest-area testing.
- Microbiology
- Total plate count, yeast and mold, and pathogens, mainly on the powder used for extraction.
Storage, lots and expiry
Storage and shelf life
Store sealed under nitrogen, cool and away from light; many suppliers specify refrigeration. Shelf life is set by the supplier specification, and oxidation values are retested on aged stock.
Lots and expiry dates
Composition varies with harvest season and processing, so record the extract content, fatty acid profile and harvest-area documentation for each lot. Rotate first-expiry, first-out.
Regulatory status
Facts from regulators and standards bodies, each linked to its source.
Health Canada's Natural Health Products Ingredients Database lists Perna canaliculus (green-lipped mussel) as a medicinal ingredient and requires confirmation that filter-feeding bivalve shellfish come from controlled harvest waters.
Source: webprod.hc-sc.gc.ca (opens in a new tab)The EU Novel Food status Catalogue entry for Perna canaliculus (POL-NF-00579) lists green-lipped mussels as not novel in food supplements; the entry does not name the oil.
Source: ec.europa.eu (opens in a new tab)
This is general information, not regulatory advice. Status differs by country and by how the ingredient is used, so check the rules for your product and market.
Green-lipped mussel oil suppliers
Manufacturers and distributors whose own websites say they sell it.
We are checking green-lipped mussel oil suppliers now
Every listing is checked against the supplier’s own website before it goes live, so this list fills in over the coming weeks. The specs and COA checklist above are ready today.
Sell green-lipped mussel oil? Request a listingFrequently asked questions
What forms of green-lipped mussel oil can brands buy?
Common forms include cO2-extracted lipid extract, diluted softgel blends and freeze-dried mussel powder. Ask each supplier for the specification sheet of the exact grade they quote.
What should the COA for green-lipped mussel oil include?
Expect fatty acid profile, peroxide and anisidine values, dioxins, PCBs and metals, marine biotoxins and microbiology, each with its method, specification and result for that lot.
How should green-lipped mussel oil be stored?
Store sealed under nitrogen, cool and away from light; many suppliers specify refrigeration. Shelf life is set by the supplier specification, and oxidation values are retested on aged stock.
What is the regulatory status of green-lipped mussel oil?
Health Canada's Natural Health Products Ingredients Database lists Perna canaliculus (green-lipped mussel) as a medicinal ingredient and requires confirmation that filter-feeding bivalve shellfish come from controlled harvest waters. The EU Novel Food status Catalogue entry for Perna canaliculus (POL-NF-00579) lists green-lipped mussels as not novel in food supplements; the entry does not name the oil.
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