Does farmed salmon contain artificial colouring?
In addition to the primary ingredients such as fish meal and oil, farmed salmon feed contains several vitamins and minerals, including astaxanthin. Astaxanthin is a carotenoid and anti-oxidant essential for good health and it also gives salmon flesh its distinctive pink colour. Wild salmon get astaxanthin from wild krill and crustaceans, while this is added to the feed that is given to farm- and hatchery-raised fish. The molecule of the astaxanthin used in feed is identical to the molecule present in wild salmon, although the form added to feed is usually of synthetic origin. Natural sources may also be used, and are made from red fish oil, crayfish extracts, yeast (Phaffia rhodozyma) and algae (Haematococcus pluvialis). Amounts of these carotenoids added to salmon feed generally range from 70ppm to 30ppm.
