Is it safe to eat farmed fish?
Yes. Eating farmed salmon does not pose a health risk. Claims that eating farmed salmon can cause health risks such as cancer are misleading and can frighten people unnecessarily and prevent them from enjoying the benefits of eating fish. Fish and seafood are an important part of a healthy and balanced diet. Scientific studies indicate that trace amounts of PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) in both farmed and wild salmon are well within acceptable limits and similar to the amounts found throughout our food supply – in beef, chicken, pork and dairy products. PCBs and other contaminants are a legacy of industrial practices that find their way into the food chain in nearly all foods. Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) work together to ensure that our food supply is safe. For example, the CFIA conducts rigorous inspections of fish processing establishments across Canada and they analyze food samples for impurities, drug residues or disease-causing agents. Health Ca
