Health Hazards - Other Hazards

Farm-Raised Salmon-PCB Levels Higher

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I suspect nearly all fish in our supermarkets are farm raised and most of the sellers have no clue if it or not. Wish there was a easy way to find the sources of our foods. Yet again. the best assurance is to by as much as possible from local markets where the produces tend to be less impersonal and one can verify the source; besides this way you will also get the freshest food to boot!

Chris Gupta

Farm-Raised Salmon High in Environmental Contaminants

PCB Levels Higher Than in Ocean-Caught Fish

It seems there are reports on new dietary revelations and recommendations in the news media on a weekly basis. Many times these reports and recommendations contradict what was previously known and/or being recommended. These conflicting dietary recommendations can confuse the most informed patient, as well as their health care practitioner.

The latest comes from a July 2003 report from the Environmental Working Group (EWG an environmental watchdog group) and states that farm-raised salmon can contain up to 16 times the amount of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) found in wild salmon. Six out of 10 salmon purchased in grocery stores are raised in controlled conditions on salmon farms,rather than being caught in the wild, says the Environmental Working Group. Their report also states that farm-raised fish are typically fed fish meal made from ground up ocean-caught fish contaminated with PCBs. Farmed salmon, with their higher fat content, concentrate these contaminants in their tissues.

Many doctors and their patients are concerned about this report, as well as others stating that farmed fish contain fewer omega-3 fatty acids, and that ocean-caught fish can have high levels of heavy metals, PCBs, dioxins, and other persistent environmental pollutants. In fact, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a recommendation that pregnant women, nursing women, and children should NOT eat any shark, swordfish, tilefish, or king mackerel due to their high mercury content.

However, research has shown beneficial effects of fish in the diet, as well as fish oil supplementation. What should you do? Supplementation with fish oil gives you the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids, but fish oil can also contain environmental pollutants if not properly processed. Supplementing with fish oil that has been molecularly distilled (a process that removes PCBs, heavy metals, pesticides, and other pollutants) provides essential omega-3 fatty acids without the environmental pollutants common to these species.

Alternative Medicine Review Fish Oil Monograph

Posted at November 27, 2003 12:00 AM | TrackBack

Comments

Hi Chris,

An even greater threat to human health is the universal practice of sloshing liquid bleach water over surfaces in contact with the fish at all stages of catch and processing. Bleach is contaminated with Fast Garnet, Fast Green (azo dyes), benzene and PCBs, either purposely or accidentally during manufacture. Individually these are carcinogenic and immuno-suppressive. Together they are devastating. No wonder the breast cancer rates of health conscious educated women are higher. We were the ones who could afford to buy more of the fish we thought was protective.

A recent large retrospective study (PubMed) matched increased fish intake of all kinds in American women with increased incidence of breast cancer (not risk which is theoretical, but actual increased numbers of cancers). This research is alarming. It contradicts previous research (before the days when bleach was sloshed on everything?) that told us to eat more fish to prevent disease including cancer.

Swimming pool grade chlorine often does not contain these contaminants, so manufacturers ARE able to produce a clean product.

Many chicken processing plants use bleach liberally as well. Dr. Clark found the contaminants in chicken too.

Source: Hulda Clark, PhD, ND

Posted by: Aliss Terpstra on November 27, 2003 09:54 PM