Farmed, wild catch or organic salmon; which is safer for you to consume?

There is an ongoing debate about farmed versus wild catch versus organic salmon, the level of quality and safety, and which to avoid or consume. It's a long and complex debate but here are some things to consider when deciding what/why/when to eat anyone of these choices. With the recent tragedy from the oil spill into the Gulf Coast and the ongoing battle to keep our waterways free from pollution and contamination, most of us are very uncertain and nervous about eating anything from the ocean or waterways for good reason. However, before you throw the baby out with the bath water consider all the options between the three.

PCB's; their effect on salmon

The core issue at hand are the chlorinated compounds called PCB's (polychlorinated biphenyls) often found in fish feed and in the environment. A more detailed explanation and how they affect salmon are provided below:

1. "Polychlorinated biphenyls PCBs are mixtures of up to 209 individual chlorinated compounds (known as congeners). There are no known natural sources of PCBs. PCBs are either oily liquids or solids that are colorless to light yellow. PCBs have been used as coolants and lubricants in transformers, capacitors, and other electrical equipment because they don't burn easily and are good insulators. The manufacture of PCBs was stopped in the U.S. in 1977 because of evidence they build up in the environment and can cause harmful health effects. However, PCBs persist in the environment. Fish absorb PCBs from contaminated sediments and from their food." (http://www.healthcastle.com/wildsalmon-farmraisedsalmon.shtml)
   

   
    

   Simply put, farm raised salmon are fed feed that contains higher amounts of PCB's, organo-chlorine pesticides and poly-brominated diphenyl ethers, all of which are toxic to our system. The other side to that argument affirms that pollutants found in our waterways, streams and oceans are just as damaging to our system. However, many studies including a 2003 Environmental Working Group reported that farm raised salmon contained almost 16 times the amount of PCB's by comparison to wild catch salmon. The EWG concluded that anyone eating farm raised salmon should limit their consumption to no more than 8 oz. per month.
   

   
    

2. Fish feed seems to be the culprit behind the higher dosage of PCB's. Farm raised salmon are typically "fatter" fish, a perfect environment for PCB's which are stored in the fat cells for longer periods of time.
   
3. The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) sets the limit of PCB's at .024 to .048 parts per million (ppm) while the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) allows up to 2ppm's. The guideline is set based upon the consumption of food products containing PCB's and the link to causing one additional cancer per 100,000 over a 70 year life expectancy. While the numbers seem conflicting, it's easy enough to remember this: No more than 8oz per month of farm raised salmon is a safe number to follow.
   

Food prep and healthy habits for eating salmon

So how do you avoid the pitfalls of possibly eating PCB's? Follow these four simple rules:

*Always grill or broil your salmon (which helps reduce the fat)

*Always cut away the skin and any "fat" from the salmon

*Limit your monthly intake of farm raised salmon to no more than 8 oz per month

*Try substituting farm raised for "canned" salmon, which is typically "wild catch" salmon (but read the label before buying)

Organic alternatives

Currently, organic seafood is mostly produced in Europe. Most health food stores that sell organic grocery items will have some variety of organic seafood available for sale. The key to being an organic food product (i.e. fruit, vegetables, bread, meat, etc.) is how the food product is produced, fed and grown. Knowing what constitutes "organic" is key in making good choices when it comes to any food you consume. While "farm raised" sounds organic, it isn't. Whether you're at a restaurant or grocery store, ask and examine how the salmon was obtained (wild caught, farm raised or organic?), what it was fed (if farm raised) and where it was caught so that you can make the best decision for yourself. Chances are the waiter will only be able to tell you if it was fresh catch or farm raised and where it came from. Very few restaurants serve organic salmon.

Source: My primary resource for this blog came from the Health Castle website (http://www.healthcastle.com) which provides great and insightful information on this subject and other matters pertaining to fresh/wild catch versus farm raised seafood.