We’re big fans of salmon around here. Besides being very good for you, it’s also one of the most versatile and tasty fish in the ocean. But buying salmon can be a bit tricky. Should you always buy wild-caught salmon, or is farmed salmon fine too? Which is better: fresh or frozen? And what about the color of the salmon? Should you be worried if the package says “color added”?
You’re grocery shopping and stop at the seafood section to pick up some fresh salmon fillets for dinner But then you notice some salmon packages labeled “color added” This cryptic phrase can be off-putting – what does it actually mean and is this fish safe to eat? Let’s clear up the mystery behind color added salmon,
What is Color Added Salmon?
Color-added salmon is salmon that was raised on feed that has pigments in it to make it the reddish-pink color that people want. Wild salmon get this color naturally from eating krill, shrimp, and other prey.
Salmon that are raised on farms are usually fed pellets that are made of fishmeal, fish oil, and vegetable proteins. Astaxanthin is added to their food to give them the color they want since this diet doesn’t have the carotene pigments that wild salmon eat.
A naturally occurring carotene called astaxanthin is like the pigments that give flamingos their pink feathers and lobsters their red shells. When salmon break down astaxanthin, it builds up in their muscles, giving them the pink color we know as salmon.
Why is Astaxanthin Added to Farmed Salmon Feed?
There are two main reasons astaxanthin is added to the diets of farm-raised salmon:
1 Consumer expectations – Most shoppers expect to see salmon with that recognizable orange-pink hue Salmon with pale gray or white flesh would look unappealing and shoppers might think it’s old or spoiled.
2. Health benefits – In addition to coloring the flesh astaxanthin provides essential health benefits for the salmon. It’s a powerful antioxidant that protects the fish’s cells from oxidative damage. Astaxanthin boosts salmon growth rates and strengthens the immune system.
So rather than dyeing or artificially coloring salmon, astaxanthin supplementation simply enhances the natural color salmon should have from a diet rich in this pigment.
Common Concerns about Color Added Salmon
Some consumers see “color added” on the label and assume it means artificial dyes or something unnatural has been added. But rest assured, astaxanthin is a natural pigment and safe for human consumption. Here are some common concerns cleared up:
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Is it a dye or chemical? Nope, astaxanthin is a carotenoid pigment found in nature. No artificial dyes or colors are used.
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Is it safe to eat? Yes, astaxanthin has been safely used in aquaculture for decades. When we eat salmon, the pigment provides antioxidants beneficial for human health.
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Does it affect taste? No, astaxanthin only changes the color and does not impact the flavor. Salmon labeled “color added” will taste the same as wild salmon.
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Is it less nutritious? The nutritional value is identical to wild salmon. Astaxanthin only provides color.
Comparing Wild, Color Added & Non-Color Added Salmon
Let’s compare some key differences between wild, color added farm-raised, and non-color added salmon:
Wild salmon get their pinkish-red hue from consuming prey like krill and shrimp containing natural astaxanthin and other carotenoids. This also provides essential nutrients allowing wild salmon to thrive.
Color added farmed salmon are fed formulated pellets with astaxanthin added to achieve the typical color. The astaxanthin helps them grow faster while staying healthy.
Non-color added farmed salmon lack astaxanthin in their diets, so the flesh remains a pale grayish color that consumers find unappealing. Adding pigment makes up for this nutritional deficiency.
So color added salmon offers shoppers the best of both worlds – the natural color they expect, and nutritious, sustainable farmed seafood.
How is Astaxanthin Added to Salmon Feed?
There are a few natural sources used to derive astaxanthin for aquaculture:
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Microalgae – Haematococcus pluvialis microalgae can be cultivated to produce astaxanthin. No shellfish need to be harvested.
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Yeast – A yeast called Xanthophyllomyces dendrorhous is genetically engineered to generate astaxanthin.
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Crustacean shell waste – Astaxanthin can be extracted from shrimp or crab shells that would otherwise be discarded.
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Krill oil – Antarctic krill are a very abundant species, so their oil is sometimes used. But other sources are preferable to protect food chains.
Using microalgae or yeast to produce natural astaxanthin is the most sustainable approach. This generates the pigment without harvesting wild sea creatures.
Should You Buy Color Added Salmon?
Color added salmon is 100% safe, natural, and nutritious despite the ambiguous labeling. The pigment astaxanthin occurs in nature – it’s not an artificial dye or filler. It provides essential health benefits for both salmon and human consumers.
In fact, some may prefer farm-raised salmon enriched with extra astaxanthin. Wild salmon can have inconsistent levels of carotenoids depending on their diet. So color added salmon delivers more consistent, optimal amounts of this antioxidant.
The only downsides are potential sustainability concerns if crustacean waste or krill oil are used. And the labeling could be clearer to avoid confusion. But overall, the process is natural and harmless. So you can enjoy color added salmon without worries!
Wild vs. Farmed Salmon
Wild-caught is generally, but not always, better than farmed. A 2004 study found that PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls, concentrated in oils and fats), dioxins, and chlorinated pesticides in farmed salmon were more than 7 times that in wild salmon. The contaminants are thought to come partly from the fish’s feed: protein pellets made of fish and fish oil, which can build up toxins in the fish’s flesh. Also, tight pens can breed disease, necessitating antibiotics, and the pens are sometimes treated with pesticides against sea lice. All these additions can ultimately be transferred to your plate.
But not all farmed salmon are created equal — and a lot has changed since 2004. Salmon that is raised organically has to follow stricter rules when making its food, like not using pesticides and not adding canthaxanthin (more on that below).
The takeaway: To keep your plate clean, consider saving your dollars for a little bit of wild salmon. If you do choose to eat farmed, go organic or know the source.
Fresh vs. Frozen Salmon
It’s gotta be fresh, right? Again, not always. It might seem counterintuitive, but sometimes frozen is actually fresher. Stay with us. So-called “fresh” fish, i. e. Things you buy at the fish counter may have been frozen before they were defrosted and put out in the store. Meanwhile, “frozen” fish may have been frozen when it was super-fresh, making it, in fact, a better choice.
The takeaway: Talk to your fish monger! It doesn’t hurt to ask whether the salmon was previously frozen. If the answer is yes, you’ll probably find fresher (and cheaper) fish in the freezer aisle.
The Scientific Difference Between Cooking Wild and Farmed Salmon
FAQ
Is the color added to salmon safe?
Why do grocery stores add color to salmon?
How to tell if salmon is dyed?
Is darker color salmon better?
What is color added salmon?
“What Is Color Added Salmon” refers to farm-raised salmon with added astaxanthin to achieve the pink to red flesh tone characteristic of wild salmon. This practice ensures a visually appealing product while providing health benefits.
What are the side effects of eating Salmon?
For individuals who enjoy fish and do not have a fish allergy, salmon is a high-quality, nutrient-rich food to include in your diet. Unless an individual has a fish allergy, the side effects from eating salmon would primarily be positive for heart and brain health for instance. It is possible that farmed salmon contains higher amounts of contaminants like PCBs compared to wild salmon and that eating it regularly may contribute to an accumulation of toxins. However, very large amounts of contaminated farmed salmon would have to be consumed and many salmon farms are finding sustainable practices that considerably reduce contaminants. The benefits of eating salmon in most cases outweighs the risks. The USDA agrees that eating 4 ounces of wild or farmed salmon twice a week is safe and can give you the nutritional benefits of omega-3 fatty acids for heart and brain health.
Does salmon have color?
Fact: Astaxanthin is a natural pigment, absorbed by the salmon’s flesh. Myth: Color-added salmon is less healthy. Fact: Astaxanthin, regardless of its source, is beneficial for salmon and humans. Myth: All farmed salmon has added color. Fact: Some farms mimic the natural diet of salmon without adding color.
Is color added salmon healthy?
Myth: Color-added salmon is artificially dyed. Fact: Astaxanthin is a natural pigment, absorbed by the salmon’s flesh. Myth: Color-added salmon is less healthy. Fact: Astaxanthin, regardless of its source, is beneficial for salmon and humans. Myth: All farmed salmon has added color.