Process for producing edible quality refined fish oil from menhaden, and other similar fish containing omega-3 long chain fatty acids

摘要

A method for producing edible quality refined fish oil comprising the steps of extracting press liquor from a cooked fish, wherein the press liquor consists primarily of fish oil and water inherent in the cooked fish. The fish oil is from the group of fish consisting of menhaden, other similar fish, and mixtures thereof. Enzymes present in the press liquor are deactivated by injecting an acidic solution into said press liquor. After the fish oil is removed from the press liquor, the fish oil is cold filtered to produce an olein fraction and a stearine fraction. The stearine fraction is separated from the olein fraction and fatty acids that remain in the olein fraction are removed. Then bleaching the fish oil by mixing amorphous silica and diatomaceous earth with the fish oil, under vacuum conditions, and deodorizing the fish oil under vacuum conditions with steam injection. Finally, preparing the fish oil for storage by mixing a chelating agent and anti-oxidants with fish oil.;Also disclosed is a refined fish oil that is free of unsavory taste or smell, have an anisidine number of less than 6, and retain more than 98% of the omega-3 long chain fatty acids present in the natural unrefined fish oil.