Blooms the Chemist has announced a review of krill oil, a controversial Omega-3 supplement harvested from Antarctica.
The decision comes just over a week after Coles and Woolworths confirmed they were no longer stocking the product, drawing praise from conservation groups and questions from industry.
“Blooms The Chemist takes responsible sourcing seriously, and we are reviewing the krill oil products currently ranged by the pharmacies in the Blooms The Chemist group,” a Blooms spokesperson told Yahoo News.
“While we undertake this review, we have requested that the pharmacies pause further purchasing of krill oil products.”
Sea Shepherd Global’s Casson Trenor said he was “confident” that an objective review would conclude that krill oil is an “unsustainable and unnecessary product” with “no place on retail shelves”.
“Not at Blooms the Chemist, and not anywhere,” he told Yahoo.
Do you have a wildlife story? Contact newsroomau@yahoonews.com
Blooms has requested that its pharmacies pause further purchasing of krill oil products until its review is complete.
(St Ives Shopping Centre)
The krill harvest industry argues that krill oil has unique properties that aid the absorption of Omega-3.
Critics argue that industrial harvesting of the shrimp-like creatures depletes a critical food source for whales and penguins. And that the lapsing of safeguards has intensified the problem.
Last week, the Terry White chemist chain also confirmed it was reviewing krill oil supplements.
Blooms the Chemist has over 130 stores across Australia, and the Bob Brown Foundation (BBF) said it was clear that momentum was building against krill oil sales.
“Blooms the Chemist can become the “go to” pharmacy chain for people who care about Antarctica and its wildlife, leaving other companies that still take part in Antarctica’s destruction in the dust,” BBF marine campaigner Alistair Allan told Yahoo.
Motivation behind supermarkets’ decision questioned
But the world’s largest krill harvester, Norway-based Aker BioMarine, has questioned whether Coles and Woolworths’ decision to stop stocking the supplement was related to sustainability concerns.
Its general manager for APAC, Ross Norris, argues the industry operates to “protect the long-term health of the ecosystem” and that sustainability is “fundamental to our future”.
Critics of the krill oil industry claim the harvest is a threat to whales and penguins.
(DreamPictures/Getty)
Aker BioMarine is the supplier to Swisse, a popular brand in Australia that’s owned by China-based Health & Happiness.
Norris claimed krill oil products had not been stocked at Coles or Woolworths for over a year, and until recently, there were only a small amount on shelves due to previous stock orders.
“Importantly, we are not aware of either retailer attributing its original ranging decision to sustainability concerns,” he said.
RELATED:
Coles and Woolworths have consistently declined to comment on why they chose to stop selling krill oil.
On Thursday, Woolworths declined to respond to Aker BioMarine’s comments. Coles refused to comment on specific factors that inform commercial decisions.
It maintains that external parties aren’t privy to every factor driving these decisions and maintains they should not be commenting on the matter for them.
Other retailers, including Chemist Warehouse, are continuing to stock krill oil supplements.
In November 2025, Priceline told Yahoo it was reviewing the sale of krill oil, but it continues to stock the product and did not respond to questions about the matter from Yahoo this month.
You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X and YouTube.