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Farm-Raised Salmon May Have More Dioxins, PCBs Other Potential Cancer Causing Contaminants Compared to Wild Salmon
Aired January 09, 2004 - 05:38 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Just when you thought fish was the safest thing to eat, there is a new health concern. This time it centers on salmon.
Our Dr. Sanjay Gupta has more on the story for you.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): We're not trying to confuse you, seriously. But it turns out that salmon, the one food that you thought was truly good for you -- low fat, heart healthy and low in mercury -- may have some problems, after all.
A large study of 700 salmon from 16 cities now shows farm-raised salmon may have up to 11 times more dioxins, PCBs and other potential cancer causing contaminants compared to wild salmon. And while that sounds bad, the FDA is not particularly concerned, saying even those levels are pretty low and it's not clear what the health risks of those contaminants really are.
LESTER CRAWFORD, DEPUTY COMMISSIONER, FDA: Please don't change the diet. FDA will take care of this potential problem by continuing to get these levels lower.
GUPTA: Still, the Institute for Health and Environment advises caution.
DAVID CARPENTER, DIRECTOR, INSTITUTE FOR HEALTH & ENVIRONMENT, SUNY ALBANY: One should limit your consumption of farmed salmon to probably on the average of not more than one farm salmon meal per month.
GUPTA: The Institute also suggests you ask where your farm salmon came from. Salmon farmed in northern Europe had the most contaminants, followed by farms in North America and then Chile. Chile had the lowest contamination level overall.
The farm versus wild salmon debate has been going on for some time. Wild salmon, which costs around $15 a pound, roam the ocean eating healthy krill and zooplankton and develop less fat and strong muscles. At $4 to $5 a pound, farm salmon are raised on a diet high in fish meal. But already, according to the National Fisheries Institute, the salmon farmers have made steps to replace the oil in fish meal with healthier soy or canola.
And if you're still concerned, removing the skin and grilling removes most of the contaminants, farmed or wild.
Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO:
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Potential Cancer Causing Contaminants Compared to Wild Salmon>
Aired January 9, 2004 - 05:38 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Just when you thought fish was the safest thing to eat, there is a new health concern. This time it centers on salmon.
Our Dr. Sanjay Gupta has more on the story for you.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): We're not trying to confuse you, seriously. But it turns out that salmon, the one food that you thought was truly good for you -- low fat, heart healthy and low in mercury -- may have some problems, after all.
A large study of 700 salmon from 16 cities now shows farm-raised salmon may have up to 11 times more dioxins, PCBs and other potential cancer causing contaminants compared to wild salmon. And while that sounds bad, the FDA is not particularly concerned, saying even those levels are pretty low and it's not clear what the health risks of those contaminants really are.
LESTER CRAWFORD, DEPUTY COMMISSIONER, FDA: Please don't change the diet. FDA will take care of this potential problem by continuing to get these levels lower.
GUPTA: Still, the Institute for Health and Environment advises caution.
DAVID CARPENTER, DIRECTOR, INSTITUTE FOR HEALTH & ENVIRONMENT, SUNY ALBANY: One should limit your consumption of farmed salmon to probably on the average of not more than one farm salmon meal per month.
GUPTA: The Institute also suggests you ask where your farm salmon came from. Salmon farmed in northern Europe had the most contaminants, followed by farms in North America and then Chile. Chile had the lowest contamination level overall.
The farm versus wild salmon debate has been going on for some time. Wild salmon, which costs around $15 a pound, roam the ocean eating healthy krill and zooplankton and develop less fat and strong muscles. At $4 to $5 a pound, farm salmon are raised on a diet high in fish meal. But already, according to the National Fisheries Institute, the salmon farmers have made steps to replace the oil in fish meal with healthier soy or canola.
And if you're still concerned, removing the skin and grilling removes most of the contaminants, farmed or wild.
Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO:
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Potential Cancer Causing Contaminants Compared to Wild Salmon>
