Is That Salmon Farmed? Think Twice Before You Buy It
The last time I looked at salmon in the grocery store's seafood department, it was all tagged "farm-raised."
Hmmm......is that a good choice?
Farm-raised salmon might look like its wild cousin, with that vibrant pink color that makes salmon so appetizing.
In farmed salmon, it's completely artificial.
Wild salmon get their pink flesh from eating krill, a naturally occurring antioxidant rich in astaxanthin. Farmed salmon, raised in ocean pens, don’t eat krill. Without colorants, their flesh would be an unappetizing grayish-white.
Chemical companies provide salmon farmers with artificial astaxanthin and a "color fan" just like the ones you see at paint stores, called a SalmoFan (I swear I am not making this up!), to choose the exact shade for their fish.
Issues with farmed salmon go deeper than color
Salmon farming is high-density. Up to 90,000 fish can be crammed into a cage the size of a city apartment. The crowded conditions foster parasites like sea lice—tiny crustaceans that feed on salmon flesh, often down to the bone.
To combat them, farmers have used various chemicals: organophosphates, hydrogen peroxide, insecticides, and even flea medications. These chemicals end up in the ocean, in the fish, and potentially, in us.
Farm-raised salmon has been banned in several countries and some U.S. states due to potential environmental and health risks.
Studies have found higher levels of PCBs and dioxins--toxic, persistent chemicals--in farmed salmon compared to wild salmon. Farmed salmon may contain up to 16 times more PCBs than their wild counterparts.
One report recommends limiting farmed salmon to just 3 meals per yeardue to contamination.
Is farm-raised salmon as nutritious as wild?
People often eat salmon for heart-healthy omega-3s. But as the salmon feed supply struggles to meet demand, farmers are replacing fish oils with cheaper vegetable oils.
That swap dramatically reduces the omega-3 content and increases inflammatory omega-6s.
To some extent, eating farmed salmon could be about as heart-friendly as eating a cheeseburger.
Ethically, it’s not much better. From genetic manipulation to gruesome delousing procedures and environmental pollution, the dark side of salmon farming isn’t easy to stomach.
Should you give up salmon altogether?
Find out the salmon's origin before purchasing.
Pacific or Alaskan salmon is likely to be wild caught, while Atlantic (or Norwegian salmon, Scottish salmon, Chilean salmon, etc.) is more likely to come from farms.
Wild Pacific salmon is expensive, not always available, and may not be able to keep up with demand if we all make the switch!
New technology may redeem farmed salmon. Inland, tank-based salmon farms recycle water and avoid sea lice, providing a more sustainable, chemical-free alternative, though they’re currently only in a few locations in the U.S.
In the meantime.....
🐟 Diversify your protein sources and omega-3 intake with other options like sardines and mackerel.
🐟 Ask questions about the origin of the salmon when dining out or shopping.
🐟 Reduce how often you eat farmed salmon.
Give this a try
Costco's Kirkland brand tinned salmon is Alaskan wild-caught, skinless and boneless, and delicious!
Throw it on a salad or use it for any recipe that might call for a can of tuna. Salmon is the better choice because you don't have the mercury consideration you have with tuna.