A Fish Tale from the Kitchen

We know that fish is good for us; Omega-3 fatty acids are good for your heart. It has been recommended that we eat fish (particularly fatty fish) at least two times a week. Fish is a good source of protein and doesn’t have the high saturated fat that fatty meat products do. Fatty fish, like salmon, are high in two kinds of Omega-3 fatty acids. But with talk of high levels of PCB’s, mercury and other contaminants in fish, it is understandable that there is concern about this “healthy alternative to red meat.”

The debate also goes on about differences in farm raised salmon and wild caught salmon. Some people say that the levels of PCB’s , along with mercury levels, are higher in farm raised salmon. It has also been said that farm raised salmon have inferior Omega-3 content.

As the Executive Chef, I am often asked about my decision to serve farm raised salmon. I understand these concerns and am working to educate myself and my staff on this topic. As with any food item, knowing where it comes from is the beginning of the education. One of the brands of farm raised salmon I choose to serve is from Creative Salmon Company Ltd. Creative Salmon is a founding member of the Pacific Organic Seafood Association. The purpose of this association is to provide the standards for organic certification in regard to seafood. Another company is Lock Duart, from Scotland. Both have websites, so check them out!

The farms I buy from do not use growth hormones, chemicals or pesticides in the food or on the fish. The levels of PCB’s and mercury are far below FDA standards for farm raised, or wild salmon, for that matter. All of the fish are fed only ingredients from natural or nature identical sources. Fish-meal, prawn shell meal and oils make up the bulk of the feed pellets. They do not net catch feeder fish, but use “waste” from fish processing, such as the prawn shell meal mentioned above. Organic wheat is used as a binder to hold the pellet together. Vitamins are added to maintain a healthy animal.

I feel secure in knowing that the farm raised salmon that I purchase is the very best available. These farms’s commitment to excellence in animal husbandry is exemplary, and thus, I have full confidence that the product that we serve to our guest will be healthful and delicious.