Farmed salmon is a smart, safe and sustainable seafood choice. Salmon is low in mercury. Both wild and farmed Atlantic salmon have much lower mercury levels than most other fish species. Farmed salmon has on average, 0.05 micrograms of mercury per gram.
Early studies reported high levels of PCBs and other contaminants in farmed salmon – higher than in some species of wild salmon, such as pink salmon. Follow-up studies haven't confirmed this and the consensus among scientists and regulators is that farmed salmon and wild salmon are safe foods.
The bottom line: Both wild and farmed salmon contain contaminants, but wild salmon has lower levels and is considered safer overall.
The Answer is Good News for Salmon Lovers. No matter which species or variety of salmon you enjoy, whether wild or farmed, you'll never have to wonder, “Is salmon high in mercury?” It's not.
Though both wild caught and farm raised salmon have a small chance of containing mercury, both options are very low risk. In fact, farm raised fish have an even lower probability of containing dangerous levels of mercury. Overall, mercury contamination is not a concern when it comes to salmon!
King/Chinook
This salmon is deserving of its royal title. Many consider it to be the best salmon you can buy. High in fat, rich, and large in size, King salmon (also known as Chinook) is loaded with omega-3s.
Benefits of Wild-Caught Salmon
Both types of salmon may be at risk of contamination by carcinogens due to water pollution. But wild-caught fish are slightly safer to eat than farm-raised ones. You should still vary the ways you get your nutrients. Low levels of dioxins.
The quality and taste of salmon varies greatly; wild sockeye salmon meat is probably the most highly prized and is certainly the healthiest. The sockeye salmon is one of seven species of Pacific salmon and it is prized all over the world for its firm, succulent orange meat and fine aroma.
Choose fish and shellfish that are lower in mercury such as salmon, trout, tilapia, cod, sole, sardines, shrimp, oysters, and other shellfish. For the most health benefits, choose fatty fish such as salmon, trout, herring, chub mackerel, and sardines. o These fish have healthy omega-3 fatty acids.
Five of the most commonly eaten fish that are low in mercury are shrimp, canned light tuna, salmon, pollock, and catfish.
Get the facts about farm-raised salmon from Norway
Farm-raised salmon from Norway is able to have much more control to prevent disease and mortality. Seafood from Norway is all about sustainability.
The FDA recommends eating 8 ounces of salmon per week. So you *can* eat it every day but in smaller servings. If you're pregnant, the FDA recommends eating 8 to 12 ounces of seafood per week from sources that have lower mercury levels — including salmon!
No bounce. Just like with your own body, salmon flesh should bounce back when you press it with a finger. If you press your fingers into the salmon and it springs right back up, it's safe to eat! Otherwise, if the flesh stays sunken and dimpled, the whole fish should be thrown away.
Salmon again is the winner here in the battle of canned tuna vs canned salmon. “Canned salmon is lower in mercury than tuna because they eat lower on the food chain, which means they are lower in toxins,” Michalczyk says.
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans states that to consume those higher amounts, children should only be fed fish from the “Best Choices” list that are even lower in mercury – these fish are anchovies, Atlantic mackerel, catfish, clams, crab, crawfish, flounder, haddock, mullet, oysters, plaice, pollock, salmon, ...
Do not eat Shark, Swordfish, King Mackerel, or Tilefish because they contain high levels of mercury. 2. Eat up to 12 ounces (2 average meals) a week of a variety of fish and shellfish that are lower in mercury.
Absolutely! Ocean-farmed Norwegian Salmon is safe and is one of the best sources of omega-3 fatty acids available. In addition, new disease-fighting techniques, preventative measures and educated animal husbandry have improved overall fish health and decreased antibiotics use by 97% since 1990.
Sardines, Pacific (wild-caught)
It packs more omega-3s (1,950 mg!) per 3-ounce serving than salmon, tuna, or just about any other food; it's also one of the very, very few foods that's naturally high in vitamin D. Many fish in the herring family are commonly called sardines.
Look for salmon that appears moist rather than dried out, since moisture content is a great indicator of freshness and how carefully the fish was handled. Avoid salmon with any browned spots on the belly, around the edges of the fillet, or instances where the skin has started browning and curling up.
Health authorities, including the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, state that both wild or farmed salmon can be consumed as part of a healthy diet. Farmed salmon contributes healthy fats, protein and essential vitamins and minerals.
Salmon is low in mercury.
Both wild and farmed Atlantic salmon have much lower mercury levels than most other fish species.
Fish and shellfish in this category, such as salmon, catfish, tilapia, lobster and scallops, are safe to eat two to three times a week, or 8 to 12 ounces per week, according to the FDA.