Norwegian Salmon and Etoxiquin: The Additive Suspended by the EU in 2017

Norwegian salmon and etoxiquin: the additive suspended by the EU in 2017

A pack of Norwegian salmon bought at Lidl ends up in the trash peine. This scene opens a debate that has been simmering for years: farmed fish as a mass-consumption product in Europe and, simultaneously, as one of the foods with the most unanswered questions about its contents. The initial trigger was a documentary broadcast on an international Spanish-language channel about farmed Norwegian salmon, which then led to a more uncomfortable issue: the feeds used to fatten these fish.

The first front was heavy metals. In 2005, Russia banned the entry of farmed Norwegian salmon after detecting lead levels 18 times higher than the permitted limit and cadmium 3.7 times higher, according to information released by an international campaign. In a second sample, the excesses were 10 and 2.5 times, respectively. The ban was extended to all fresh farmed Norwegian salmon from January 2006. An international campaign even wrote to the then Norwegian Minister of Fisheries and Coastal Affairs, Helga Sensensensensensensen, requesting guarantees that control mechanisms protected international consumers.

What is etoxiquin and why it matters

Etoxiquin is an antioxidant added to compound feeds to prevent rancidity. It is registered as technological additive E324. Documents shared regarding this issue show its presence in complete feeds for broiler chickens (0-14 days) at a rate of 2.0 mg/kg, as well as in feeds for laying hens. The problem is not just chicken: etoxiquin travels in the feed given to other species, and those consuming it accumulate it.

In June 2017, the European Union approved Implementing Regulation 2017/962, suspending the authorization of etoxiquin as an additive in feeds for all animal species and categories. The text is explicit: the use of this additive may pose a risk to human and animal health and the environment, and additives and feeds containing it must be withdrawn from the market as soon as possible. In other words, the EU itself officially acknowledged what had previously been discussed in forums and technical reports.

Farmed salmon and the feed problem

The Norwegian salmon reaching Spanish fishmongers is almost entirely farmed. This means its diet depends on the feed provided by the producer, which may incorporate fish meals and oils from other fisheries. The chain is long and opaque: consumers see a package labeled "Norwegian salmon" but do not see what the fish ate. Some argue that organic farmed salmon has fewer residues, but the prevailing view is that it still contains them, so it is not entirely free of issues.

Labeling does not help. Many packages do not display the FAO zone of capture, a code identifying the maritime area of origin. When this is absent, the inference is that the product is farmed, as wild-caught fish usually carry this indication in small print. The repeated recommendation is to check the package before buying and, if it says nothing, leave it.

The wild fish market: what can be bought

Against farmed options, the alternative is wild-caught fish, with its own risks. Frozen or canned wild salmon usually comes from Alaska, FAO zone 61, and some avoid the Pacific due to Fukushima-associated contamination. Frozen wild haddock from Icelandic or Faroe Islands waters is considered one of the minimally edible options. Sardines and mackerel accumulate the fewest toxins, according to the repeated criteria. For omega-3, the proposed route is plant-based: flax seeds, hemp seeds, chia, and walnuts.

Canned tuna fares no better. It may contain mercury concentrations well above 2 mg/kg, and a large piece of salmon, especially in the fat, accumulates more metals. Legislation allows up to 1 mg/kg in fish and shellfish for metals like lead, cadmium, arsenic, and mercury, a threshold easily met in meats but practically impossible to respect in fish.

Krill oil and omega-3 capsules

Amidst the debate on fish toxins, the question arises where to obtain omega-3 without relying on farmed fish. Arctic krill oil is presented as a source of quality DHA, with a Norwegian manufacturer selling it to capsule producers. The noted detail is that many of these capsules do not contain even 10% real krill oil. Krill harvested in Japan, according to this same warning, may contain radioactive isotopes.

Mercadona’s omega-3 capsules also enter the conversation: each 604 mg capsule contains 500 mg of salmon oil, along with gelatin, water, and antioxidants. The pointed issue is that what matters are EPA and DHA acids, and if labeling does not mention them or carry a quality seal guaranteeing freedom from impurities and metals, the product’s utility is questionable.

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Etoxiquin has been suspended in the EU since 2017 for all animal species. Farmed Norwegian salmon remains on shelves. And the unanswered question is how much of this additive, or its substitute, ends up in the fillet bought on Saturday.