| Scientists
from the United States warn that farm-raised salmon have significantly
higher levels of toxins, such as PCBs, than wild salmon. The
most contaminated fish came from Scotland and the Faroe Islands,
and researchers noted that concentrations of all contaminants
were significantly higher among salmon farm-raised in Europe,
as opposed to those farm-raised in North and South America.
Researchers studied farm-raised Atlantic salmon and examined
the levels of 14 toxins that were likely to cause cancer in
humans. Researchers found significantly higher levels of 13
toxins compared with wild pacific salmon.
The researchers conducted additional studies on four contaminants
that are proven to be harmful to human health: PCBs, dioxins,
toxaphene and dieldrin. Researchers found concentrations of
these substances were consistently higher in farmed salmon
than in wild fish.
Researchers are now advising people to consume no more than
two ounces of Scottish farmed salmon each month. They also
advise that people may want to avoid Atlantic salmon, which
is virtually all farm raised, and seek out Alaskan king salmon
or other wild salmon instead until new guidelines are developed.
Following the report, the United States refused entry to
salmon from Scottish fish farms after U.S. after tests showed
the batches were "unfit for human consumption."
According to The
Observer, "Last year 15 shipments of smoked salmon
were turned away because they were contaminated with listeria.
A further nine salmon shipments from Scotland were classified
as 'insanitary'. According to the FDA, they 'may have become
contaminated with filth' and 'may have been rendered injurious
to health'. Three more salmon shipments were officially defined
as filthy."
Reuters
January 8, 2004
Science
January 9, 2004;303(5655):226-9
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