Fishy Debate: Groups Argue Over Salmon's Benefit to Pregnant Moms

Feb. 23, 2006 — -- Outraged by an advertisement that markets farm-raised salmon to pregnant women, the National Environmental Trust filed a formal complaint today with the Federal Trade Commission.

The ad, run by the industry trade group Salmon of the Americas, appeared in The New York Times Sunday Magazine in the fall of 2005 as part of a six-page spread. The page in question shows a smiling pregnant woman above the text "Just what the doctor ordered," a reference to ocean-farmed salmon being good for pregnant women because it is high in omega-3 fatty acids.

The FTC filing is the latest action in an ongoing dispute between the two groups. On one hand, the National Environmental Trust says that farm-raised salmon has been shown to contain dangerous levels of certain carcinogens, mostly because they feed on bottom-feeding fish.

But Salmon of the Americas says that the research showing the link is outdated, and that the industry has "had an aggressive program over the last few years to reduce levels polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs, a group of carcinogens," said Alex Trent, the executive director of Salmon of the Americas.

"The [National Environmental Trust] have singled out farmed salmon because they do not like salmon farming, and they want to disrupt the farmed salmon industry," he said.

Trent also noted the studies used to wage the complaint were based on fish collected and examined in 2001, which, he said, did not provide recent enough information to be accurate. Also, he pointed out that other experts have said that just because a contaminant is detected does not mean it has any harmful effects.

But the National Environmental Trust's Pure Salmon Campaign deemed the ad "deceptive" and the actions of Salmon of the Americas "irresponsible." Its complaint to the FTC asked for the commission to begin enforcement proceedings against the Salmon of the Americas group.

"Farm-raised salmon has been proven to contain high levels of chemicals that are harmful to developing fetuses and which increase the risk of cancer to the mother," stated the complaint.