No Pesticides Found in Farmed Salmon
Scientists find no traces of pesticides in salmon filet, however, traces of legal pesticides are found in commercial salmon feed. (Photo: Salmon production line, from Marine Harvest)
More than half the fish feed served to farmed salmon comes from flour and plant oils. However, no pesticides have been found in farmed salmon filets.
More than half the fish feed served to farmed salmon comes from flour and plant oils. However, no pesticides have been found in farmed salmon filets.
According to an article at forskning.no (Norwegian only), scientists at NIFES (the Norwegian National Institute of Nutrition and Seafood Research) have published this.
Other regulations for pesticides
The article refers to commercial fish feed containing both canola oil, grain gluten, soya proteins and flour, and many of the ingredients are imported from other countries that often have different rules from those of Norway and the EU when it comes to use of pesticides.
Pesticide remains in food has been on the Norwegian Food Safety Authority’s surveillance list since 1977, and remains have been found in fruit, berries, herbs and vegetables.
No traces in salmon filet
This concern is rather new for fish feed. Only in the last 10-15 years, plant ingredients have come to constitute a significant part of commercial salmon feed.
Scientists have found remains of pesticides in the feed used, however, no trace of this has been found in the end-product, the salmon filets.
Marc Berntssen, Senior Reseracher at NIFES, is not surprised.
Legal in Norway too
- This is not surprising, as these pesticides are easily degradable, Berntsen says.
Primifosmethyl, tebuconazole and chlorpyrifosmethyl are all found in fish food. They are all pesticides that can be legally used in Norway too.