Farmed fish is safe food

“Levels are overall low, which is in accordance with previous findings,” says Rita Hannisdal, researcher at NIFES, the National Institute of Nutrition and Seafood research in Norway. On behalf Food Safety Authority NIFES analysed 11 585 fish for illegal substances, medical residues, heavy metals or other environmental contaminants. 30 per cent of the samples were analysed for illegal medicines and other substances such as steroids which are illegal to use in food production. None were found. 70 per cent of the samples were analysed for legal veterinary drugs, heavy metals and organic environmental contaminants. All the measurements showed results below the permitted limit.

Less PCB Two samples contained traces of the legal substance emamectin, and another sample showed traces of cypermetrin. In all samples the levels found were well below permitted limits. The levels of organic environmental contaminants were also well below permitted limits. The levels of heavy metals were low, which is in accordance with results of previous studies. “The levels of dioxin like PCBs, PCB7 and the pesticide DDT have decreased during the last ten years”, says Hannisdal. Extensive sampling The recent report is based on analyses of 11 585 farmed fish. Fillets from 9995 fish and 1590 livers were analysed. The samples were obtained from slaughterhouses and fish farms all over the country. The monitoring programme has been in operation since 1998, as required by European Union legislation (Directive 96/23), which requires the authorities to map concentrations of undesirable substances in foods and raw materials of animal origin. The Food Safety Authority has responsibility for sampling and implementation of the program in Norway, while NIFES is responsible for performing the analyses in the part of the program that covers farmed fish. Contact: Rita Hannisdal +47 957 95 468 rha@nifes.no