212
J.G. Bell and R. Waagbø
to a maximum of 8 pg TEQ/kg body wt/day of dioxins and PCBs. However, girls
and women of reproductive age are advised to consume up to two 140 g portions of
oily fish/week up to a maximum of 2 pg TEQ/kg body wt/day of dioxins and PCBs.
The latter recommendation is in agreement with current EU guidelines. Thus, based
on the data from the RAFOA studies, consuming 2 × 140 g/week portions of salmon
fed FO or 75% VO would account for 39 and 14% of the suggested maximal
weekly intake of dioxins + DL-PCBs, respectively, for women of child bearing age,
while providing 128 and 60% of the ISSFAL recommended EPA + DHA intake,
respectively (Fig. 6.8a & b). By comparison, consuming 4 × 140 g portions/week
of salmon fed FO or 75 and 100% VO would account for 20 and 7% of the
suggested weekly maximal intake of dioxins + DL-PCBs, respectively, for men,
boys and women over child bearing age while providing 256 and 128% of ISSFAL
recommended EPA + DHA intake, respectively (Fig. 6.8a & b).
The cautionary caveat, that women of childbearing age should consume less oily
fish, is unfortunate but understandable given that unborn children and young infants
may be particularly sensitive to environmental pollutants. However, they are also
the most likely to benefit from the positive effects of increased intake of n-3 HUFA.
We feel that the data presented here confirms that farmed fish can be regarded as a
safe and healthy food option for human consumers. However, future strategies for
aquaculture production must aim to reduce current dependence on fish oil and fish
meal while taking all possible steps to reduce contaminant levels in fish and, at the
same time ensure that we preserve current levels of n-3 HUFA in farmed fish. This
can be achieved by judicious use of terrestrial plant products to replace marine raw
materials during the main grow out phase of production but should also include the
investigation of cleaned or decontaminated FO as a means of restoring n-3 HUFA
without increasing the contaminant burden. Such decontamination processes are
Fig. 6.8a Amount of dioxin + DL-PCBs present in 2 or 4 × 140 g portions of salmon, produced
using 100% fish oil (FO) or 75% vegetable oil blend (VO) diets for the full production cycle
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
FO
75% VO
2 portions
pg TEQ dioxins + PCB
4 portions
140g portions of salmon/week
J.G. Bell and R. Waagbø
to a maximum of 8 pg TEQ/kg body wt/day of dioxins and PCBs. However, girls
and women of reproductive age are advised to consume up to two 140 g portions of
oily fish/week up to a maximum of 2 pg TEQ/kg body wt/day of dioxins and PCBs.
The latter recommendation is in agreement with current EU guidelines. Thus, based
on the data from the RAFOA studies, consuming 2 × 140 g/week portions of salmon
fed FO or 75% VO would account for 39 and 14% of the suggested maximal
weekly intake of dioxins + DL-PCBs, respectively, for women of child bearing age,
while providing 128 and 60% of the ISSFAL recommended EPA + DHA intake,
respectively (Fig. 6.8a & b). By comparison, consuming 4 × 140 g portions/week
of salmon fed FO or 75 and 100% VO would account for 20 and 7% of the
suggested weekly maximal intake of dioxins + DL-PCBs, respectively, for men,
boys and women over child bearing age while providing 256 and 128% of ISSFAL
recommended EPA + DHA intake, respectively (Fig. 6.8a & b).
The cautionary caveat, that women of childbearing age should consume less oily
fish, is unfortunate but understandable given that unborn children and young infants
may be particularly sensitive to environmental pollutants. However, they are also
the most likely to benefit from the positive effects of increased intake of n-3 HUFA.
We feel that the data presented here confirms that farmed fish can be regarded as a
safe and healthy food option for human consumers. However, future strategies for
aquaculture production must aim to reduce current dependence on fish oil and fish
meal while taking all possible steps to reduce contaminant levels in fish and, at the
same time ensure that we preserve current levels of n-3 HUFA in farmed fish. This
can be achieved by judicious use of terrestrial plant products to replace marine raw
materials during the main grow out phase of production but should also include the
investigation of cleaned or decontaminated FO as a means of restoring n-3 HUFA
without increasing the contaminant burden. Such decontamination processes are
Fig. 6.8a Amount of dioxin + DL-PCBs present in 2 or 4 × 140 g portions of salmon, produced
using 100% fish oil (FO) or 75% vegetable oil blend (VO) diets for the full production cycle
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
FO
75% VO
2 portions
pg TEQ dioxins + PCB
4 portions
140g portions of salmon/week