FOOD SAFETY AND CONTAMINANTS IN SALMON August 17, 2004
The Pew Charitable Trust, based in the United States, has funded numerous studies examining contaminants in farmed and wild salmon across the world. Each study will present conclusions that are drawn from results derived from the same data set of farmed and wild salmon. The first study – comparing levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in wild and farmed salmon – was published in the journal Science on January 9, 2004. The second study – comparing levels of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in wild and farmed salmon – was published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology on August 10, 2004. Fish and seafood constitute an important part of a healthy and balanced diet for Canadians. However these and other foods sometimes contain environmental contaminants, usually at very low levels. As a result, Health Canada undertakes regular surveillance activities to monitor the level of contaminants in foods. These surveillance reports, or food surveys, provide current estimates of the exposure to these contaminants and are a valuable tool to improve the risk assessment and to develop the appropriate strategies to manage the risks associated with these contaminants. The 2002 Fish and Seafood Survey indicated that current PCB and PBDE levels tested in several types of seafood do not pose a risk to human health. Fish and other food products are monitored by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to ensure any traces of contaminants are within acceptable levels as set by Health Canada. PCBs Small amounts of PCB contaminants are found in the environment all over the world. Traces of PCBs are found in our food as well as in our bodies. The short term key in dealing with this fact is to ensure products entering the food supply are not harmful to human health and are within acceptable limits that have been established by Canada and the international community. Although the impression left by the Pew study was that there are more contaminants (PCBs) in farmed salmon than in wild salmon, the levels of contaminants found are less than 1/80th of the acceptable levels established by Health Canada. Therefore, consuming farmed salmon does not pose a health risk to consumers. Salmon also remains a good source of important nutrients, including omega-3 fats, which contribute to a healthy diet. PBDEs Based on similar chemical properties to PCBs, PBDEs are regarded as being environmentally persistent and bioaccumulative, meaning that they accumulate in body tissues. Measurements in animals and humans have indicated that levels have been increasing during the past 10-15 years. Recent dietary surveys from European countries and Canada have identified food as one possible route of exposure to PBDEs, however it is suggested that sources other than food contribute significantly to human exposure. These sources include some consumer products (when used as additive flame retardants), air, water, and dust particles. While there is some limited evidence suggesting that the concentrations of PBDEs are higher in farmed fish and seafood products, Health Canada’s opinion is that current levels of PBDEs found in any retail food do not pose a health risk to Canadians. Aquaculture Salmon was by far the most important species produced by Canadian aquaculturists in 2002, accounting for 81% of the value of the industry at $520.7 million. Farmed Atlantic salmon in BC and New Brunswick were worth $502.1 million combined. At DFO, the Program for Sustainable Aquaculture (PSA) aims to create the policy and regulatory climate that enables the industry to produce the best possible products under the safest and most environmentally-friendly conditions. LINKS Press Release(s) or Statements Health Canada and Fisheries and Oceans Canada - Government of Canada Assures Public that Farmed and Wild Salmon are Safe to Consume http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/media/newsrel/2004/hq-ac77_e.htm Environment Canada and Health Canada – Government Assesses Environmental and Health Effects of Flame Retardants: http://www.ec.gc.ca/press/2004/040511_n_e.htm Screening Assessment of Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers published in Canada Gazette Part I (bilingual PDF): http://canadagazette.gc.ca/partI/2004/20040508/pdf/g1-13819.pdf Fact Sheets Health Canada - PBDEs (Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers) http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/english/media/releases/2004/pbde.htm Health Canada – PBDEs in Fish http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/food-aliment/cs-ipc/fr-ra/e_pbde_fish.html 2002 Fish and Seafood Survey http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/food-aliment/cs-ipc/fr-ra/e_seafood_survey.html Health Canada – Food safety and PCBs found in fish http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/english/media/releases/2004/factsheet_food.htm Frequently Asked Questions Q’s & A’s on PBDEs http://www.ec.gc.ca/CEPARegistry/documents/ subs_list/PBDE_draft/PBDEfaq.cfm Q's & A's on PCBs in salmon and food safety http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/english/media/releases/2004/questions_food.htm Others: DFO’s Program for Sustainable Aquaculture http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/aquaculture/response_details_program_e.htm Human Health and the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA): An Overview http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/english/iyh/environment/cepa_overview.html