In this story from MSNBC in January of 2004, we learn about the pollutant problem facing farmed salmon, which provides a large part of the salmon eaten in the world, especially in Europe but becoming more prevalent in the United States, grounding the vital importance of protecting our wild salmon as a previous post noted.
Fortunately, most of the farm salmon consumed in the United States comes from Chile, as this report notes, and has pollutant levels lower than those consumed in Europe and closer to that found in wild salmon.
Here is an excerpt.
Study: More pollutants in farmed salmon than wild U.S. market less affected than Europe
MSNBC News Services
Updated: 2:54 p.m. ET Jan. 8, 2004
Salmon raised in sea pens, particularly Atlantic salmon farmed in Europe, contain significantly more dioxins and other potentially cancer-causing pollutants than do salmon caught in the wild, according to a major study that tested samples from around the world.
Some health experts urged consumers not to panic, noting that levels were still far below health standards. And one of the study's authors emphasized that consumers should continue to eat plenty of fish but might want to avoid farmed salmon.
In their study released Thursday in the journal Science, the authors tied the chemical levels to fish food used in sea pens. Fish food is typically made from concentrated oil from other fish that absorbed chemicals in their fat during their lifetime. Wild salmon, on the other hand, have a more varied diet.
Eating more than one meal of farm-raised salmon per month, depending on its country of origin, could slightly increase the risk of getting cancer later in life, the researchers concluded.
The researchers urged that farmers change fish feed and that salmon be clearly labeled to indicate whether it is farmed or wild so consumers can make informed choices about which fish to eat.
But the Food and Drug Administration said the levels of pollutants found in salmon are too low for serious concern. The agency urged Americans not to let the new research frighten them into a diet change.
U.S. markets rely on Chile
The debate is sure to confuse consumers, who long have been told to eat fish at least twice a week because it helps prevent heart disease. Indeed, salmon is usually listed as a top choice because it is particularly high in heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids and low in a completely different seafood contaminant, mercury.
Moreover, most farm-raised salmon sold in the United States is domestic or comes from Chile — where the pollutant level was not too much higher than that found in some wild-caught salmon.
