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worst of the worst of all foodstuffs tested for DDT, dieldrin and other cancer-causing chemicals . It is a contaminated product' said Don Staniford, the author of a major critique of the salmon farming industry. The salmon-farming industry argued that DDT and dieldrin, which have long been banned in most of the world, are pollutants present in most food. Staniford pointed out, however, that farmed salmon are much more contaminated than wild salmon.
The latest pesticide survey by government scientists lends some support to Staniford's view. Only 25 of 105 samples of imported, canned, wild salmon bought in Britain between April and December last year contained DDT. By contrast 59 out of 60 samples of fresh farmed salmon in 2001 contained the pesticide.
Panel: DDT in 50 Out of 60 Fish
Government scientists tested 60 samples of fresh UK farmed salmon bought from shops during 2001 for traces of pesticides. They detected DDT in 59 of the samples, hexachlorobenzene in 23 samples and chlordane in 11 samples. 10 samples contained all three. The samples included:
- Salmon tail fillets from Asda in Dundee on July 24, 2001, contaminated
with DDT
- Scottish salmon fillets from the Co-op in Newcastle on November 26, 2001, contaminated with DDT
- Fresh Scottish salmon fillet from Marks & Spencer in Sussex on August
21, 2001, contaminated with DDT and also with hexachlorobenzene
- Scottish salmon fillets from Safeway in Dundee on May 22, 2001, contaminated with DDT
- Salmon steak from Sainsbury's in Leeds on September 25, 2001, contaminated with DDT, hexachlorobenzene and chlordane
- Salmon fillets from Tesco in Dundee on 21 August, 2001, contaminated with DDT and hexachlorobenzene
Source: Report by the Pesticides Residues Committee:
http://www.pesticides.gov.uk/committees/PRC/2001.htm
Staniford claimed that this is why supermarkets are reluctant to label salmon as farmed or wild. Farmed fish are 'cheap and nasty', he said. 'Since wild salmon contains far fewer toxins, consumers should 'go wild' if eating salmon.' The 2001 survey also detected hexa chloro benzene in 23 samples of farmed salmon and chlordane in 11 samples, as well as pesticides in two samples of organic salmon. Contaminated salmon were sold at all the major supermarket chains, though most of the samples came from Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury's and Safeway (see panel). Pollutants concentrate in farmed salmon because they are fed fish pellets and oils that are themselves contaminated. The salmon-farming industry is experimenting with alternative foods, such as plant oils and proteins. 'However, it remains the case that the benefits of eating oily fish, such as salmon, for its Omega-3 essential fatty acids, far outweigh any risk and are valuable for a range of health conditions including protecting against heart disease,' said Dr John Webster, technical adviser with Scottish Quality Salmon. The industry group has also furiously condemned next weekend's protest as 'yet another ill-informed attempt to damage the livelihoods of thousands of people in Scotland in order to pursue an out-dated vendetta.' It represents farmers producing 65% of Scotland's caged salmon. In a statement, Scottish Quality Salmon claimed that every 'fact' in a leaflet produced by the Farm Salmon Protest Group was wrong. 'We are all in favour of reasoned debate and discussion, but this group has adopted such a malicious view of salmon farming with no regard for progress or achievements that it serves no useful purpose,' said SQS chief executive, Brian Simpson. The reaction of one of the protesters' other targets, Tesco, was more relaxed. 'People are entitled to express their opinion,' said a spokesman for the supermarket chain. 'Our suppliers follow strict codes of practice to ensure that the food produced is safe and of high quality. It is also important that it is produced with minimum harm to the environment and with a high regard for animal welfare.'
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