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Nordic Naturals vs Carlson Cod Liver Oil (2026)
Disclosure: We earn commissions on purchases made through our links. This never influences our scores. Editorial policy
The Verdict
Nordic Naturals edges it on our rubric, 91 to 88 on our 0-100 execution score, and holds our Top Pick badge in the cod liver oil scorecard. Dosing and form tie at a full 25 and transparency ties at 23, so only two pillars move: purity verification, 25 to 23, and value, 18 to 17. In our view the honest read is that these are the same product class at the same daily price, and a one-cent difference is noise. The reason to take Nordic is the extra purity layer, an IFOS 5-star rating plus Friend of the Sea certification against Carlson's IFOS certification.
The reason to take Carlson is the 100-serving bottle, which is roughly twice the supply per purchase. Neither one is the cheapest way to buy cod liver oil on our scorecard; our Best Value badge sits with a third product at about $0.37 a day. The caution our profile applies to both, and it is the important part: vitamin A and D come built in, and it says to skip cod liver oil if you are pregnant or already taking a vitamin A multivitamin, because retinol above 3,000mcg RAE per day is toxic, and to take fish oil plus D3 instead in that case.
Nordic Naturals Arctic Cod Liver Oil (Lemon)
Nordic Naturals
Carlson Cod Liver Oil (Lemon)
Carlson
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Category | Nordic Naturals Arctic Cod Liver Oil (Lemon) Nordic Naturals | Carlson Cod Liver Oil (Lemon) Carlson |
|---|---|---|
| Brand Score | 91/100Winner | 88/100 |
| Dosing & Form | 25/25Winner | 25/25 |
| Purity | 25/25Winner | 23/25 |
| Value | 18/25Winner | 17/25 |
| Transparency | 23/25Winner | 23/25 |
| Cost/Day | $0.60Winner | $0.61 |
| Dose/Serving | 1060mg EPA+DHA | 1100mg EPA+DHA |
| Form | triglyceride-form liquid, lemon flavored | triglyceride-form liquid, lemon flavored |
| Third-Party Tested | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Proprietary Blend | No | No |
Why This Comparison Matters
These two lemon-flavored liquid cod liver oils are the closest thing this category has to a default matchup, and after the 2026 repricing our notes record on the Carlson bottle, they now land within a penny of each other per day.
Nordic Naturals provides 1,060mg of total omega-3 per teaspoon, 330mg EPA and 510mg DHA, and is IFOS 5-star rated and Friend of the Sea certified. Carlson provides 1,100mg per teaspoon, 400mg EPA and 500mg DHA, is IFOS certified, and our notes say it is tested by an FDA-registered laboratory. Both are triglyceride-form liquids from Norwegian or Arctic cod, both disclose their full omega-3 breakdown, and neither uses a proprietary blend. Carlson's label lists 850mcg RAE of vitamin A and 400 IU of vitamin D3 per teaspoon.
On cost, Nordic is about $0.60 per day at one teaspoon from $28.86 for an 8oz bottle of 48 servings, and Carlson is about $0.61 from $61.20 for a 16.9oz bottle of 100 servings. Our profile targets 1,000 to 2,000mg of combined EPA and DHA daily, so a single teaspoon of either sits at the low end of that range.
Detailed Score Breakdown
Nordic Naturals Arctic Cod Liver Oil (Lemon)
Nordic Naturals
Provides 1,060mg total omega-3 (EPA 330mg + DHA 510mg) per tsp - within clinically effective range for general cardiovascular and anti-inflammatory benefits
Third-party tested for purity and freshness by independent labs. Friend of the Sea certified. Surpasses international standards for oxidation and heavy metals. IFOS 5-star rated.
$0.60/day at 1 tsp serving ($28.86 for 8oz) - premium pricing for a premium liquid CLO. Reasonable given the third-party testing profile.
Full EPA, DHA, vitamin A, and vitamin D amounts disclosed per serving. Wild Arctic cod sourced from Norway. No proprietary blends. Form and source clearly stated.
The benchmark cod liver oil. Excellent purity testing, pleasant lemon flavor, and transparent labeling. The standard other CLO products are measured against.
Carlson Cod Liver Oil (Lemon)
Carlson
Provides 1,100mg total omega-3 (EPA 400mg + DHA 500mg) per tsp - solid clinical dose for cardiovascular and anti-inflammatory support
IFOS certified for purity and potency. Tested by an FDA-registered laboratory. Norwegian cod sourced from pristine Arctic waters. Meets or exceeds all international oxidation standards.
$0.61/day at 1 tsp ($61.20 for 16.9oz) - the 2026 repricing erased its old value edge; now at per-day parity with Nordic Naturals
Full omega-3 breakdown (EPA, DHA, other omega-3s), vitamin A (850mcg RAE), and vitamin D3 (400 IU) clearly listed. Source and processing method disclosed.
Excellent omega-3 content per serving, but the 2026 repricing put it at per-day parity with Nordic Naturals. The vitamin A content (850mcg RAE) per tsp is moderate and manageable for most adults.
How We Compared These Products
Every product in our database is scored on four equally-weighted pillars: dosing accuracy and form quality, purity verification (third-party testing), cost per clinically effective dose (not cost per pill), and label transparency. Each pillar is worth 25 points for a total of 100.
Cost per effective dose is calculated using the clinically studied dose from published research, not the manufacturer's suggested serving. If a product requires multiple servings to reach the dose used in clinical trials, that cost is reflected in the value score.
For a full explanation of our scoring methodology, see our methodology page. Prices were last checked on the dates listed for each product and may have changed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which cod liver oil has more EPA and DHA per teaspoon?
Carlson, marginally: 1,100mg of total omega-3 per teaspoon, 400mg EPA and 500mg DHA, against Nordic Naturals at 1,060mg, 330mg EPA and 510mg DHA. Both score a full 25 on our dosing and form pillar, so the 40mg difference does not separate them.
Are both cod liver oils third-party tested?
Yes, both carry IFOS certification. Nordic Naturals is IFOS 5-star rated and additionally Friend of the Sea certified, and our notes say it surpasses international standards for oxidation and heavy metals. Carlson is IFOS certified and tested by an FDA-registered laboratory. Our purity verification pillar splits that 25 to 23.
How much vitamin A is in these products?
Our data records Carlson at 850mcg RAE of vitamin A and 400 IU of vitamin D3 per teaspoon, which its notes call moderate and manageable for most adults. Nordic Naturals discloses its vitamin A and D amounts per serving on the label as well. The number that matters is the one our profile flags: retinol above 3,000mcg RAE per day is toxic, so add up every source before adding either product.
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FDA Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Dietary supplements are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional before starting any supplement regimen.