Myth #3: Farmed fish isn’t safe to eat
In the third of a series of Myths about Marine Aquaculture, FishfarmingXpert is reporting some of the material provided by NOAA- especially as it pertains to salmon aquaculture. In this article we quote some of the information about the food safety aspects of farmed seafood found in US restaurants, grocery stores and other outlets. The myth that farmed seafood- and salmon in particular- was not safe to eat was largely a result of a generally considered flawed study by the American researcher Ron Hites, who in his report contended that farmed salmon contained higher levels of PCBs than did wild salmon, and which generated a tremendous amount of media coverage, courtesy of a media blitz costing hundreds of thousands of dollars paid for by the sponsors of the research, the Pew Charitable Trusts.
Following the release of this study a flurry of statements from various government food safety agencies were issued, all stating that any (low) level of risk to human health associated with the consumption of farmed salmon were by far outweighed by the long list of benefits to human health associated with the regular consumption of salmon- whether it is farmed or wild. Subsequent to the release of this study, it was also revealed that in the US, per capita PCB intake per year from beef is 2401 ppb, compared to 30 ppb for farmed salmon. Milk contributes 716 ppb per capita, much more than the amounts contributed by poultry and pork at 306 and 199 ppb, respectively.
NOAA provides some answers to a few Frequently Asked Questions about the safety of farmed seafood:
- Are U.S. farm-raised fish and shellfish safe?
Yes, the U.S. laws governing the harvest and processing of seafood for human consumption are among the most stringent in the world. The responsibilities of monitoring and controlling seafood safety are divided among various agencies of the federal government and individual states. The primary federal agencies involved with seafood safety include:
- Food and Drug Administration
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
- U.S. Department of Agriculture
- Environmental Protection Agency
Farmed seafood is both safe and healthy to eat – studies have shown this time and time again. Both the diets and environments of farmed seafood are monitored throughout the life of the animal. Because of their controlled diet, the heart-healthy long chain omega-three fatty acids and other nutrients in farmed seafood have levels similar to wild. In the U.S., seafood farmers follow the same food safety guidelines as other seafood producers and land farmers, as well as undergo regular inspections. Safety-related regulations address siting, what the animals are fed, and processing, to name just a few.
- What about arguments that farmed fish are contaminated with mercury and other heavy metals?
No farmed fish are on the “avoid” list due to mercury. These compounds enter and concentrate in organisms largely through what they eat. Just like feeds for other domestic animals, aquaculture feeds are regulated by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) and Departments of Agriculture in respective states, with advisement from the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). The FDA and state agencies conduct inspections as well as collect and analyze feed and fish samples to help ensure that feeds and the fish that consume them meet strict state and federal requirements. Formulated feed ingredients used in aquaculture are regularly monitored to avoid possible contamination of feed with methyl mercury.
According to the FDA and EPA, studies show that for people eating the standard U.S. diet, the health benefits of omega-3 fatty acids far outweigh the potential drawbacks of mercury toxicity due to fish consumption. Specific advisories are in effect for pregnant women, those trying to get pregnant, nursing women, and children. See our FAQ on Seafood and Human Health for more information
- Are there growth hormones in U.S. farmed fish?
Growth hormone is not used in U.S. aquaculture. Although growth hormones may be given to other farm animals such as cattle and sheep, their use in food fish is prohibited by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Even if it was allowed, there is no incentive to use it, as it has not been shown to improve growth or efficiency in farmed fish. Certain additives such as pigments, antioxidants, and other nutritional supplements have been proven safe and their use in fish feeds is permitted by FDA regulation.
- Are antibiotics fed to fish to improve growth (or for any reason other than disease)?
In the United States, antibiotics are not fed to fish for non-therapeutic reasons through their feed or any other mechanism. The use of antibiotics for non-therapeutic purposes in aquaculture is prohibited by law. Incidentally, antibiotics do not improve growth or efficiency in fish (like they do in cows, swine, and chickens). However, antibiotics have been known to be added to fish food in other countries.
- Are antibiotics used at all in U.S. aquaculture?
As vaccines have been developed for the major diseases that impact aquaculture (including salmon), antibiotic use has all but disappeared in the U.S. There occasionally is still a need to use them in special cases approved by a vet. All drugs, including antibiotics, used in aquatic species farmed in the U.S. have been proven safe and effective and are undetectable at the time of harvest (as prescribed by FDA withdrawal times). At present, only three antibiotics are registered and sold for use in the United States as feed additives for disease control in farmed fish. The use of parasiticides is similarly restricted by FDA regulations.
- Are farmed salmon fed or injected with dyes?
No. In the wild, salmon eat krill and other tiny shellfish that contain natural pigments called carotenoids, which are powerful antioxidants and precursors of vitamin A. Carotenoids, specifically astaxanthin and canthaxanthin, give salmon flesh its distinctive pigment. Farmed salmon are supplemented with natural and/or synthetic astaxanthin that is identical to the pigment that salmon get in the wild. Both natural and synthetic astaxanthin are processed and absorbed by wild and farmed fish in exactly the same manner.
