Heavy metals, pollutants… Here is the least contaminated salmon according to 60 million consumers.

In sushi, papillote or quiche, salmon is a must on our plates. If it is recommended for protein, zinc, omega 3 or even vitamin A, D and E intake, it is equally distinguished by many traces of contaminants. To detect residues of heavy metals, dioxins (organic pollutants), PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls, also organic pollutants) and drug residues, our journal partners 60 million consumers analyzed 16 commercially available salmon references to identify the least contaminated. Their conclusions can be found in the May 2023 issue (1), available on newsstands.

Unavoidable contaminants

The first lesson from the work of the magazine. it is impossible to avoid infected fish. Of all 16 salmon references analyzed, 60 million consumers detects traces of dioxins, PCBs and mercury, which are recognized by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as carcinogens and endocrine disruptors. However, the amounts of dioxins, PCBs and mercury present in the analyzed references are low enough not to pose a health risk.

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Although they have been banned since 1987, they persist in the aquatic environment and settle in the fatty tissues of fish, especially in products labeled organic. “This pollution mainly comes from the food provided to the salmon. The specifications for organic salmon mandate 22% oil and meal from wild fish, which themselves are likely to accumulate residues,” Marc Vandeput, a researcher specializing in sustainable fisheries at the National Institute of Agriculture, Research and Environment (INRAE), explained to the magazine.

The Norwegian sector is at the top of the ranking

Norwegian salmon are still able to sustain themselves, the study says 60 million consumers. Criticized for several years due to its intensive breeding and many traces of pollutants, it now has a better composition. Since 2019, the industry has been pushing to limit antibiotic use, and this commitment has made a difference. Thus, no traces of drugs, lead and cadmium were found in Norwegian salmon.

The latter therefore rise above the podium. With a score of 14/20, we find Norwegian salmon steak Carrefour, Le Marché Filière Qualité, labeled ASC (Aquaculture Stewardship Council) at the top of the ranking. Selling for €24.30 per kilogram, it stands out for its good composition but also for an attractive price. On the catwalk, look for Norwegian-origin salmon from the Monoprix Bio brand for €45.80 per kilo, and the Lidl link for €25.

Imperfect Scottish salmon

If the sanitary quality of Norwegian salmon is improving, the Scottish industry cannot say the same. So we find relatively high levels of mercury in certain references, like Casino Bio salmon. However, the magazine notes that mercury levels there are low enough not to pose a health risk.

How can these high mercury levels be explained? By: 60 million consumers the reason must have come from breeding lake, that is, within lakes or fjords. The fish there are more limited and therefore more polluted.

Significant environmental impact

Finally, the journal warns of the severe ecological impact of salmon consumption. And bio tagged links are no exception. On the one hand, farming contributes to the depletion of oxygen in the water, and on the other, the escape of some fish can affect the genetics of their wild counterparts. Consequences: the species weakens.

All the links in the environmental criteria list thus receive a “moderate” rating. “An additional reason not to exceed one serving of oily fish per week, as recommended by health authorities,” our colleagues conclude.

(1) The full survey can be found in the journal 60 million consumerson newsstands now.

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