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A WEEKLY QUOTA OF FISHERY SHORTS CAUGHT AND
LANDED BY THE INSTITUTE FOR FISHERIES RESOURCES
AND THE PACIFIC COAST FEDERATION OF FISHERMEN'S
ASSOCIATIONS
VOL. 05, NO. 26 28 JUNE 2002
5:26/05. FARMED SALMON COLORING AGENT IMPLICATED
IN EYE DISEASE: The European Commission's Scientific Committee
on Animal Nutrition (SCAN) has been investigating the use of the
coloring agent canthaxanthin, which is widely used to color farmed
salmon's flesh pink to make it more acceptable to consumers, and has
found levels of this dye in farmed salmon that far exceed safety
standards. A representative of SCAN noted that: "The present maximum
levels of canthaxanthin permitted in fish food are far too high. The
potential is there for retinal damage. It is important that the use of
this
chemical as a feed additive is greatly reduced." The SCAN report went
to the European Commission's Standing Committee on Animal Feeds on
24 June, which may recommend protective legislation, according to the
24 June Scottish Daily Mail. The farm fish industry has long claimed
that canthaxanthin is safe, but health officials have traced retinal
damage
to other products containing this coloring agent, which was withdrawn
from its prior use in human drugs in the 1980's, but still approved for
animal feeds. Canthaxanthin is only one of many chemicals and drugs
used in salmon farming in Europe, which supplies the majority of
farmed salmon consumed in the United States. For a copy of the 17
April SCAN report go to:
http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/fs/sc/scan/out81_en.pdf. See also the
Scientific Food Committee "Opinion on Canthaxanthin" at:
http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/fs/sc/oldcomm7/out10_en.html.
-- Jay DeLong Olympia, WA /----------------------------------------------------------------------------- /"Unless stated otherwise, comments made on this list do not necessarily / reflect the beliefs or goals of the North American Native Fishes / Association" / This is the discussion list of the North American Native Fishes Association / nanfa_at_aquaria.net. To subscribe, unsubscribe, or get help, send the word / subscribe, unsubscribe, or help in the body (not subject) of an email to / nanfa-request_at_aquaria.net. For a digest version, send the command to / nanfa-digest-request_at_aquaria.net instead. / For more information about NANFA, visit our web page, http://www.nanfa.org