Salmon is safe
(March 23, 2004)
There is no reason
to be concerned about eating Norwegian salmon, says the National Institute
of Nutrition and Seafood Research (NIFES).
The Norwegian Food Safety Authority has data from Norwegian monitoring
programmes which refutes the assertion made by American scientists claiming
that Norwegian farm-raised salmon contain excessive levels of PCB, dioxins
and other toxic substances.
Solid data
The Norwegian Food Safety Authority has asked the National Institute of
Nutrition and Seafood Research (NIFES) to take a closer look at the American
study. Some of the information given in the study gives reasons to believe
there are weaknesses in the conclusions from the study.
"The Norwegian data we have on this area are based on larger and broader
studies of the occurrence of contaminants in farmed salmon than the American
study," says Are Sletta in the Norwegian Food Safety Authority’s section of
Contaminants and Food Additives.
Also the Food Standards Agency in the UK counters the study and says in a
press release that the study does not give rise to concern.
Salmon is safe
The Norwegian Food Safety Authority finds it unnecessary to give consumption
advice for farm-raised salmon. Consequently, there is no need to reduce the
consumption of farmed salmon to once a month as the American study
indicates.
Press release from the Norwegian Food Safety Authority, January 9 2004:
There is no reason to be concerned about eating Norwegian salmon, says the
National Institute of Nutrition and Seafood Research (NIFES).
An American study published on 9 January 2004 examines the presentation of
organic contaminants, including dioxins and PCBs. The study includes samples
from four Norwegian fish farms.
NIFES has carried out surveillance of pollutants in fish for many years, and
includes PCB and dioxins for the Norwegian Government (from 01.01.04 the
Norwegian Food Authorities).
The content of dioxins in Norwegian salmon is well below the EU’s upper
limit. The mean concentration of dioxins (PCDD/F) in Norwegian farmed salmon
(n=35) is 0,58 (range 0.25-1.19) pg WHO-TEQ/g. EU’s upper limit for dioxins
in fish is 4 pg (PCDD/F) WHO-TEQ/g. Norwegian farmed salmon is therefore
well below the limit set by the EU.
NIFES still recommends the population to consume fish, including Norwegian
farmed salmon.
For more information please
contact:
The Norwegian Food Safety Authority - Are Sletta, tel: + 47 23 21 66 59
The National Institute of Nutrition and Seafood Research (NIFES) . Dr. Anne-Katrine
Lundebye Haldorsen - mobile phone: + 47 48 18 50 33, or + 47 55 90 51 20
