Sacha Inchi Oil vs. Algae Oil: ALA vs. DHA in Vegan Omega-3 Softgels
Published on October 8, 2026 · By Caleb Lim, Founder · Asia Eco Farm
Vegan omega-3 is no longer a niche brief. In Google Trends data for the five years to October 2026, worldwide search interest in "vegan omega 3" more than doubled and interest in "algae oil" rose roughly fivefold. "Vegan omega 3 softgels" is among the fastest-rising related searches, and Germany, Austria and Switzerland lead the category.
Two ingredients sit at the centre of that brief: algal oil and plant seed oils such as Sacha Inchi. They are often discussed as alternatives. They are not. They deliver different fatty acids, they are regulated under different specifications, and they support different statements on a label.
This comparison is for formulators and brand owners deciding which oil, or which combination, a vegan omega-3 product needs.
Two different omega-3s
Omega-3 is a family of fatty acids, not one substance.
Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) is the 18-carbon omega-3 found in seed oils. It is an essential fatty acid, meaning the body cannot make it. Sacha Inchi oil is one of the richest sources among edible oils.
Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is a 22-carbon, long-chain omega-3. Fish accumulate it from the microalgae at the base of the marine food chain. Algal oil goes to the source: microalgae such as Schizochytrium are grown in fermentation tanks and the oil is extracted and refined.
The body can convert ALA into the long-chain forms, but only to a limited degree. The US National Institutes of Health notes that the body converts ALA into EPA and then DHA only in very small amounts. The European Food Safety Authority accordingly sets separate adequate intakes: one for ALA, at 0.5% of dietary energy, and one for EPA plus DHA, at 250 mg a day for adults.
For a formulator the conclusion is straightforward. A product positioned on DHA needs a DHA source. A product positioned on ALA, or on plant omega-3 more broadly, does not.
Side-by-side comparison
| Factor | Sacha Inchi oil | Algal oil (Schizochytrium) |
|---|---|---|
| Omega-3 delivered | ALA (short-chain, essential) | DHA (long-chain) |
| Omega-3 content | 41–50 g ALA per 100 g (our CoA specification) | DHA at least 32–35%, depending on strain (EU specification) |
| Source | Seed of a farmed perennial vine, Plukenetia volubilis | Microalgae grown by fermentation |
| Processing | Mechanical pressing; can be cold-pressed and unrefined | Extracted and refined |
| Other fatty acids | 32–45 g linoleic acid and 8–10 g oleic acid per 100 g | Varies by strain and supplier |
| EU Novel Food status | Authorised (oil only) | Authorised, with DHA limits per food category |
| EU peroxide value limit | Below 15 meq O₂/kg | At most 5.0 meq/kg |
| Organic certification | Available (farmed crop) | Ask the supplier |
| Vegan | Yes | Yes |
Sacha Inchi figures are from our certificates of analysis. Algal oil figures are from the EU Union list entries for Schizochytrium oils. Always work from the specification of the actual lot you are buying.
What the EU specifications say
Both oils are authorised novel foods in the EU, and both come with a specification the oil must meet. The differences tell you a lot about how each ingredient behaves.
Sacha Inchi oil
The Union list describes Sacha Inchi oil as "a 100 % cold pressed vegetable oil" with "a fruity, light, green vegetable taste". Its specification includes:
- alpha-linolenic acid above 45%,
- total unsaturated fatty acids above 90%,
- peroxide value below 15 meq O₂/kg,
- oleic acidity below 2.0 g/100 g.
It may be used "in line with normal food use of linseed oil", and must be labelled "Sacha inchi oil (Plukenetia volubilis)".
Only the oil is authorised. Sacha Inchi protein powder is not an authorised novel food in the EU. See our EU Novel Food guide.
Algal oil
The Union list carries several entries for oil from Schizochytrium microalgae. The specification for "Schizochytrium sp. oil" includes:
- DHA content of at least 32.0% (other strain entries specify at least 35%),
- peroxide value of at most 5.0 meq/kg,
- acid value of at most 0.5 mg KOH/g.
Unlike Sacha Inchi oil, algal oil has maximum DHA levels by food category. In food supplements the limit is 250 mg DHA per day for the general population and 450 mg per day for pregnant and lactating women. It must be labelled "Oil from the microalgae Schizochytrium sp."
The capsule maths
Label claims are tied to amounts, and the amounts work out very differently for the two oils.
Content claims. Under the EU nutrition claims regulation, a food may be described as a "source of omega-3 fatty acids" if it contains at least 0.3 g of ALA per 100 g and per 100 kcal, or at least 40 mg of EPA and DHA combined per 100 g and per 100 kcal. "High in omega-3" needs double those amounts. Both oils clear these thresholds by a wide margin.
Health claims. The EU's list of authorised health claims attaches different claims to ALA and to DHA, each with its own condition of use. The ALA claim is tied to a daily intake of 2 g of ALA. The DHA claims are tied to a daily intake of 250 mg of DHA. Which claims you may use, and the exact wording, are for your regulatory team to confirm for each market.
Here is what those daily amounts mean in capsules:
| Daily amount | Oil needed | In softgels |
|---|---|---|
| 2 g ALA | About 4–5 g of Sacha Inchi oil | Four to five 1,000 mg softgels, or about a teaspoon of bottled oil |
| 250 mg DHA | About 700–800 mg of algal oil at 32–35% DHA | One softgel |
A 1,000 mg Sacha Inchi softgel supplies about 410–500 mg of ALA, around 460 mg at a typical lot. That is a substantial ALA declaration per capsule. It is not a one-capsule route to the 2 g condition. Brands building around that condition tend to choose a bottled oil, a multi-capsule serving, or a food format instead. Brands building around a per-capsule ALA declaration, organic origin and a clean ingredient list are well served by a softgel.
It is better to settle this at the concept stage than at artwork approval.
Stability and sensory handling
Both oils are highly unsaturated and both need care.
DHA has six double bonds. ALA has three. The more double bonds a fatty acid has, the more readily it oxidises, which is why the EU specification holds algal oil to a peroxide value of 5 against 15 for Sacha Inchi oil. Our own certificate of analysis specifies Sacha Inchi oil below 10 meq O₂/kg.
For either oil, the practical controls are the same: a peroxide value on every lot, an antioxidant system in the fill (mixed tocopherols are standard in our softgels), nitrogen flushing in bulk packaging, and storage away from heat and light.
Sensory profile differs. The EU specification's own description of Sacha Inchi oil is fruity, light and green. Algal oils are refined to be neutral but can carry marine notes, particularly as they age. In a softgel this matters less than in a liquid or a food, where Sacha Inchi oil's flavour is an advantage and algal oil usually needs masking.
Origin, processing and the label story
The two oils give a brand different things to say.
Sacha Inchi oil is an agricultural product. It can be certified organic, cold-pressed and unrefined, and traced to named farms. For brands whose customers read ingredient lists, "organic cold-pressed Sacha Inchi oil" is a short and legible line. What the organic claim requires of the supply chain is in our organic Sacha Inchi oil certification guide. We cover the process claims and the lot documents behind them in our guide to specifying cold-pressed Sacha Inchi oil.
Algal oil is a fermentation product. Its story is precision and independence from the ocean: DHA without fishing. It is a refined ingredient, and organic status is a question to put to the individual supplier.
Neither story is better. They appeal to different customers, and a brand should pick the one that matches its positioning rather than try to borrow both.
Which oil for which brief?
| If the product brief is… | Use | Why |
|---|---|---|
| A vegan DHA supplement, or any product with a DHA claim | Algal oil | Only a DHA source delivers DHA at a one-capsule dose |
| A plant-based, organic omega-3 softgel with an ALA declaration | Sacha Inchi oil | High ALA, organic and cold-pressed, simple ingredient list |
| A bottled culinary or finishing oil with omega-3 content | Sacha Inchi oil | Pleasant flavour; a teaspoon carries about 2 g of ALA |
| Functional foods, dressings and spreads | Sacha Inchi oil, or algal oil within its category limits | Sacha Inchi follows normal linseed-oil use; algal oil has per-category DHA maximums |
| A "complete" vegan omega-3 with ALA and DHA on the label | A blend of both | Each oil contributes the fatty acid the other lacks |
On blends
Combining the two in one softgel is a legitimate way to put ALA and DHA on the same label. It also doubles the regulatory and quality workload. You have two specifications to hold, the algal oil's DHA limit to respect, and a fill whose shelf life is set by the less stable oil. A blended fill is also unlikely to qualify as organic unless every component does. Treat it as a custom development project with its own stability study.
How Asia Eco Farm fits in
We supply the Sacha Inchi side of this decision. We do not produce algal oil.
- Bulk oil: hydraulically pressed, cold and unrefined, from our USDA Organic and Laos Organic certified farms in Laos. ALA is specified at 41–50 g/100g, with a lot-level certificate of analysis. Bulk supply starts at a 50 L drum.
- Finished softgels: our softgel ODM service covers 500 mg, 1,000 mg and 1,200 mg fills, a bovine gelatin or vegan starch-based shell, and bottle or blister packaging. A first production run typically takes 11–12 weeks from briefing.
- Custom fills: our standard list of blends does not include algal DHA. If your concept needs ALA and DHA in one capsule, raise it at the briefing stage so feasibility can be assessed before you commit to a format.
For the comparison with the marine ingredient algal oil is displacing, see Sacha Inchi Oil vs. Fish Oil. For the other major plant ALA source, see Sacha Inchi vs. Flaxseed. Minimum order quantities and lead times are on our MOQ and pricing page.
Bottom line
Algal oil and Sacha Inchi oil are both vegan omega-3 ingredients, and that is where the similarity ends. Algal oil is how a vegan product delivers DHA. Sacha Inchi oil is how a product delivers a high, organic, cold-pressed dose of the essential plant omega-3. Decide which fatty acid the label needs to carry, check the amount the claim requires against the capsule you plan to make, and specify the oil accordingly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sacha Inchi oil a substitute for algae oil?
No. Sacha Inchi oil supplies alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), the essential plant omega-3. Algal oil supplies docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), a long-chain omega-3. The body converts only a limited share of ALA into long-chain omega-3s, so a product that promises DHA needs a DHA source. The two oils answer different product briefs.
How much omega-3 is in a Sacha Inchi oil softgel compared with an algae oil softgel?
A 1,000 mg Sacha Inchi oil softgel supplies about 410–500 mg of ALA, based on an oil specification of 41–50 g ALA per 100 g. Algal oil from Schizochytrium is specified in the EU at a minimum DHA content of 32–35% depending on the strain, so 250 mg of DHA fits in a single capsule of roughly 700–800 mg of oil.
Are both oils authorised as novel foods in the EU?
Yes. Sacha Inchi oil and oil from the microalgae Schizochytrium sp. are both on the Union list of novel foods, each with its own specification and conditions of use. Algal oil in food supplements is capped at 250 mg DHA per day for the general population. Sacha Inchi protein powder is not authorised in the EU.
Which oil is harder to keep stable?
Both are highly unsaturated and need protection from oxygen, heat and light. DHA has six double bonds to ALA's three, which makes it the more oxidation-prone molecule, and the EU specification reflects that with a tighter peroxide limit for algal oil (5 meq/kg) than for Sacha Inchi oil (15 meq/kg). Specify peroxide value on every lot of either oil.
Can Sacha Inchi oil and algae oil be combined in one softgel?
Technically, yes: both are oils and can share a fill. A blend lets a label declare ALA and DHA together. It also means two ingredient specifications, two sets of regulatory conditions and the stability profile of the less stable oil. Treat it as a custom formulation and raise it at the briefing stage.
Can a vegan omega-3 softgel be certified organic?
Sacha Inchi is a farmed crop and its oil can carry organic certification. Algal oil is produced by fermentation, and its organic status is a separate question for that supplier. For any softgel, the shell ingredients count toward the organic percentage of the finished product, so confirm the label category with your certifier.
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Cold-pressed, unrefined Sacha Inchi oil specified at 41–50 g ALA per 100 g, from our USDA Organic certified farms in Laos, supplied in bulk or as finished softgels with a vegan shell option. Lot-level CoA with every order.
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