The science behind salmon safety

Irish seafood products undergo rigorous, quality-assured tests to ensure regulatory compliance, says Aengus Parsons

An opinion piece in the Irish Examiner last week questioned the food safety of farmed salmon, referring to a 10-year-old information leaflet on contaminant levels and ignoring the wealth of recent publicly available data.

The facts are that Irish seafood products, including farmed salmon, undergo vigorous, quality-assured testing to ensure full compliance with EU and national regulatory limits, designed to protect consumers. Farmed salmon is an excellent source of omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, which are of key importance for cardiovascular health, brain development, and cognitive health. Salmon are also a good source of high-quality protein and supply minerals and certain vitamins.