News Coverage
The Hidden Dangers Of Salmon
Published August 24, 2003
NEW YORK (CBS) Just last year, salmon became the third most popular seafood in America. Roughly 23 million Americans eat it more than once a month.
Megan O'Rourke can't seem to get enough salmon, she eats it at least three times a week, "I eat it for health reasons. I don't eat a lot of red meat."
With it's healthy omega-3 fatty acids, doctors say a steady diet of salmon can lower your risk of heart disease, arthritis, and even some cancers.
But a new study suggests farmed salmon sold at your supermarket contain cancer causing polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs, that exceed federal health guidelines. CBS 2's Michael Pomeranz reports.
"Salmon are being fed a diet which is relatively high in PCBs," says Dr. Steven Schwarz of Long Island College Hospital.
Schwartz says the government should take a closer look at this study, especially since 60 percent of all salmon comes from farms, "I think the study is a very good preliminary view at what we thought in the past was a safe source of protein."
The "Environmental Working Group" found 70 percent of the salmon tested contained PCB levels higher than EPA recommendations. And nearly as much wasn't safe to eat more than once a month. Similar studies in the U.K., Ireland and Canada found comparable results.
Farmed salmon are grown to be bigger and fatter than wild salmon. But scientists found the food they are fed, small fish, are loaded with PCB's, in fact 10 times more than wild salmon.
"These are compounds that build up, once they're in your body they stay around for a long period of time," says Schwartz.
Pregnant women and children are especially vulnerable to PCBs. Alex Trent of the salmon industry says farm raised is still healthy food, "The proven benefits of omega 3 fatty acids far outweigh the yet unproven link of pcb at these low levels to any diseases including cancer.
He says farmers are trying to lower PCB levels in their fish.
In the meantime you can reduce levels of PCBs by cutting excess fat and skin off your salmon and by grilling, broiling or baking it instead of frying.
"I think you have to be careful not to overdo it not eating salmon 6 days a week, or anything 6 days a week," says Megan.
So how do you know if your salmon is farmed or wild? Both Atlantic salmon and king salmon are farmed. If you're looking for wild salmon, you can choose canned or Alaskan salmon. And if the label doesn't say anything, industry leaders say assume it's farmed.