EWG in the News
 Results from tests of store-bought farmed salmon show seven of 10
fish were so contaminated with PCBs that they raise cancer risk
Farmed salmon industry to face lawsuit over contaminants in fish
By: Terence Chea
Associated Press
January 23, 2004
The farmed salmon industry faces legal action in California for
failing to warn consumers that the fish contain what environmental
groups say are potentially dangerous levels of cancer-causing
chemicals.
The Environmental Working Group and the Center for Environmental
Health filed notice last week of their intent to sue 50 salmon farms,
fish processors and grocery chains under a California anti-toxics law.
"Our goal is to challenge them to change their practices so their
fish is safe to eat," said Michael Green, executive director for the
Oakland-based Center for Environmental Health.
The potential lawsuit comes after a major study published earlier
this month in the journal Science found that farm-raised salmon
contains significantly more contaminants than salmon caught in the
wild because of PCBs, polychlorinated biphenyls, in feed. It
recommended that farmers change fish feed and urged consumers to buy
wild salmon.
The farmed salmon industry disputes the conclusions, citing experts
who say the benefits outweigh the risks of eating farmed salmon.
"(Consumers) will be doing themselves and their families a great
disservice if they stop eating farmed salmon," said Alex Trent,
executive director of the trade group Salmon of the Americas. He noted
that farmed salmon, a source of heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids, is
much cheaper than wild salmon and can be purchased year-round.
Under Proposition 65, the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement
Act of 1986, companies are required to notify consumers if their
products contain hazardous levels of chemicals known to cause cancer
or reproductive harm.
State law requires private groups to first file notice of their
intent to sue to give the state attorney general and other prosecutors
60 days to decide whether to join or take over the lawsuit.
Defendants named include major U.S. grocery chains such as Safeway
Inc., Kroger Co., Albertsons Inc. and Costco Wholesale Corp. and
farmed salmon producers in Canada and Europe.
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