Origins

The history of Seven Seas is closely linked to the traditional use of cod liver oil as a nutrient source in Europe. By the early 20th century, cod liver oil was widely associated with vitamins A and D and was used to address nutritional deficiencies such as rickets.[3]

In 1935, a group of trawler owners in Hull established a commercial venture focused on fish oil production. That same year, Pure Cod Liver Oil Liquid was launched under the Seven Seas name, forming the foundation of the brand.[4] Unlike modern supplement companies, the original business was rooted directly in the British fishing industry and the commercial processing of fish oils.

Second World War era

Seven Seas gained significant prominence during the Second World War. From 1936 onwards, its cod liver oil was distributed through the British government’s Welfare Food Scheme to pregnant and nursing mothers and children up to five years old, providing essential nutritional support during a period of severe food rationing.[5]

The company also participated in the production of welfare orange juice. Consequently, Seven Seas products became associated not only with commercial healthcare but also with Britain’s wartime nutrition programme,[6] establishing an enduring link with family health and nutrition.

International expansion

Following the Second World War, Seven Seas expanded beyond the domestic British market. A key milestone occurred in 1948 when the brand began exporting cod liver oil to Malaysia and other Commonwealth countries.[7] This early overseas distribution explains why Seven Seas became a familiar health supplement brand in parts of Asia well before the recent global expansion of many Western supplement companies. Products subsequently reached markets across Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and the Caribbean.

Development of omega-3 science

While Seven Seas began with cod liver oil, its modern identity is strongly tied to omega-3 fatty acids. During the 1950s and 1960s, scientists progressively identified long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, including EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid). Research in the 1970s into the diets of Greenland Inuit populations further stimulated scientific interest in marine omega-3s.[9]

Because fish oils and cod liver oil naturally contain these marine fatty acids, Seven Seas leveraged this scientific development to expand beyond traditional cod liver oil into more concentrated fish-oil and omega-3 products.

Expansion into vitamins and supplements

In 1981, Seven Seas moved beyond its historical focus on cod liver oil by expanding into vitamin and mineral supplements. In 1982, the company launched Pulse Pure Fish Oils, an over-the-counter supplement aligned with emerging interest in omega-3 and cardiovascular health.[8] This period marked the transformation of Seven Seas from a traditional cod-liver-oil producer into a broader health and nutrition brand.

Ocean Gold technology

A significant technological advancement came in 1998 with the introduction of Ocean Gold. Seven Seas describes Ocean Gold as a patented purification process designed to improve the purity of cod liver oil while preserving its nutritional characteristics.[9] As consumers became increasingly concerned about potential contaminants in fish oils, purification became a critical component of quality positioning in the industry. Seven Seas subsequently incorporated this processing expertise into its broader quality assurances.

Seven Seas has undergone several changes in corporate ownership throughout its history:

• 1935: Seven Seas brand established
• 1974: Business taken over by Imperial Foods, part of Imperial Tobacco
• 1986: Acquired as part of Hanson’s acquisition of Imperial Tobacco
• 1996: Acquired by Merck
• 2019: Became part of Procter & Gamble following P&G’s acquisition of Merck’s consumer-health business[10]

The current Seven Seas website explicitly states that its products are marketed by The Procter & Gamble Company and its affiliates.[1]

The Seven Seas product portfolio has expanded considerably from its original liquid cod liver oil offering.

Cod liver oil

Cod liver oil remains the brand’s historical flagship category. Products are available in various formulations and formats, including capsules and liquids. Cod liver oil naturally contains marine omega-3 fatty acids as well as vitamins A and D, though the exact nutritional profile varies by formulation.[17][18]

Omega-3 and fish oil

Omega-3 is now arguably the central category in the Seven Seas portfolio. The brand emphasises EPA and DHA, the two long-chain marine omega-3 fatty acids most closely associated with fish oil supplementation.[17]

Multivitamins

Seven Seas also offers multivitamin products designed for general nutritional supplementation. For example, regulatory databases in Malaysia list Seven Seas Multivitamin Syrup with Cod Liver Oil, containing vitamins A, B-group, C, and D alongside cod liver oil.[8]

Children’s products

Children’s nutrition has been part of the Seven Seas story since the brand’s wartime involvement in welfare nutrition. Its current international portfolio includes products specifically marketed towards children’s nutritional needs.[14]

Joint health products

The brand has historically offered products positioned around joint health, including glucosamine-based supplements. Regulatory records in Malaysia, for instance, list Seven Seas Jointcare Glucosamine 500 mg Capsules.[8]

Malaysia holds particular significance in the history of Seven Seas as one of the brand’s earliest international markets. Records indicate that Seven Seas cod liver oil was being exported to Malaysia as early as 1948.[11]

The brand maintains a retail presence in Malaysia today. Current retail listings include products such as Seven Seas Cod Liver Oil Gold, Seven Seas Multivitamin Syrup, and combination multivitamin and cod-liver-oil products.[15][16] Malaysian regulatory records also reflect the brand’s corporate transition; for example, product registration documents identify Procter & Gamble (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. as the product holder or importer for Seven Seas Multivitamin Syrup with Cod Liver Oil.[8]

Compared with many contemporary imported supplement brands, Seven Seas has a notably long-established history in the Malaysian market.

Seven Seas’ current positioning is built around the premise that good health begins with good nutrition. The company emphasises three core pillars:

1. Marine nutrition, particularly omega-3, fish oil, and cod liver oil
2. Scientific expertise, drawing on decades of research and development in marine oils
3. Family health, with products intended for different life stages including children and adults[2]

The brand describes itself as having more than 85 years of omega-3 scientific expertise and centres its “Ocean Gold” promise on sourcing, quality ingredients, and manufacturing standards.[9]

The Seven Seas identity is inherently connected to the ocean. The name evokes maritime imagery that aligns with the company’s historical relationship with Britain’s fishing industry and its continued emphasis on marine-derived ingredients. The brand narrative can be understood as a progression from British maritime heritage through cod liver oil and fish oil to omega-3 science and modern nutritional supplements. Rather than originating as a generic vitamin company, Seven Seas developed from a specialist fish-oil business and gradually broadened its nutritional portfolio.

Seven Seas is particularly strong in the omega-3 and cod-liver-oil segment. Its UK website describes Seven Seas as the UK’s No. 1 omega-3 brand, based on NielsenIQ data cited by the company for the 52 weeks ending October 25, 2025.[13]

Internationally, the brand states that its products are available in more than 60 countries, although some corporate materials reference a presence spanning over 100 countries; this discrepancy appears to reflect differing definitions or regional reporting of distribution footprints.[19]

[12]

The primary distinction of Seven Seas lies in its heritage. While many supplement brands originated in multivitamins, sports nutrition, or pharmaceuticals, Seven Seas traces its identity directly to cod liver oil and the British fishing industry of the 1930s. Its evolution from cod liver oil to fish oils, omega-3 science, vitamins and minerals, family nutritional supplements, and ultimately a global health-nutrition brand provides a coherent narrative. The brand’s modern omega-3 positioning is directly connected to the core activity it has pursued since its founding.

As of 2026, Seven Seas operates as a P&G-owned and marketed nutritional supplement brand, with omega-3 and cod liver oil remaining central to its identity. The portfolio has expanded to include multivitamins, children’s nutrition, and other nutritional health categories.[19] The brand’s contemporary messaging focuses less on cod liver oil as a traditional remedy and more on modern nutritional supplementation backed by marine-oil expertise.

1. Why Seven Seas? Brand History | Seven Seas UK
2. Help unlock your child’s true potential | Seven Seas India
3. About Us | Seven Seas India
4. The history of Seven Seas | Seven Seas India
5. 80 Years And Still Going Strong | Seven Seas India
6. The History of Seven Seas® – YouTube
7. Seven Seas (company)
8. SEVEN SEAS | Watsons Malaysia
9. Seven Seas: Celebrating 85 years as one of the world’s most trusted health supplement providers | Daily FT
10. About Seven Seas Cosmetics | Brand Story
11. pg.com
12. SEVEN SEAS
13. 七海健絡Seven Seas 品牌歷史 | 英國No.1關節保健品品牌
14. Untitled Document
15. Seven Seas – Sunway Multicare Pharmacy
16. Seven seas Ulasan produk – Tryandreview.com
17. Omega-3 – Whole Body Health Benefits | Seven Seas UK
18. Omega-3 Fish Oil Capsules With Vitamin D | Seven Seas
19. Consumer Health Brand Product Portfolio Management | Stanscott International Inc.