Consumer warning – Green Britain Foundation investigation reveals organic Salmon for sale in UK supermarkets exposed to harmful chemicals. Photo: Abolish Salmon Farming
An investigation by the Green Britain Foundation (GBF) has uncovered that organic salmon sold in UK supermarkets has been exposed to banned and harmful chemicals, raising significant concerns about food safety and consumer trust.
The report has prompted the Soil Association (SA), which certifies organic standards, to admit to a “weakness” in their previous regulations that allowed this practice.
The investigation focuses on organic salmon supplied by Mowi, the world’s largest salmon producer, and sold through major retailers including Sainsbury’s, Tesco, and Ocado. Using open-source data from four farms, GBF found the fish had been treated with toxic chemicals before being certified as organic.
Chemical Exposure on Organic Salmon
The chemicals identified include:
- Deltamethrin: A synthetic insecticide reported to be 360 times more toxic than DDT, which poses a severe risk to aquatic ecosystems.
- Emamectin Benzoate: A broad-spectrum toxic chemical banned under the Soil Association’s new standards.
- Azamethiphos: An organophosphate insecticide linked to neurological disorders, reduced fertility, and environmental harm.
GBF highlighted the contradiction, noting that consumers paying premium prices for organic products are unknowingly buying salmon that do not meet their expectations of chemical-free farming.
Soil Association Acknowledges a Standards Weakness
The Soil Association responded to GBF’s findings by acknowledging that their previous regulations allowed non-organic stock to be converted to organic after a three-month period. During this time, the fish were required to meet organic standards, but treatments applied before the conversion period were not considered.
The SA updated its standards in July 2024 to close this loophole. Under the new rules, farms converting to organic certification can no longer use fish unless they are sourced as organic juveniles and raised under organic conditions for their entire lifecycle.
In response to GBF’s findings, the Soil Association reassured consumers that all products with the organic logo comply with the standards in place at the time of production. They added that any stock produced under previous conversion rules will no longer reach consumers beyond winter 2024/25.
Mowi’s Response
Mowi defended its practices, stating that the chemicals used were licensed medicines administered under veterinary care and that no residues remained at the time of harvest. A Mowi spokesperson explained:
“Of the eight farms converted to organic farming methods, only one used azamethiphos early in the juvenile stage. The other farms used limited amounts of emamectin benzoate and deltamethrin. All salmon were farmed 100% in accordance with organic farm standards.”
GBF Calls for Consumer Caution
Dale Vince, founder of the Green Britain Foundation, criticised the certification process and the wider salmon farming industry. He said:
“This scandal with so-called ‘organic’ salmon is just the tip of the iceberg. Consumers are being duped into paying premium prices for salmon doused in toxic chemicals. Fish farming is an environmental disaster—polluting oceans, harming wild fish populations, and causing immense animal suffering. The idea that this could be considered ‘organic’ is absurd.”
Key Concerns for Consumers
- Health Risks: Consumers may have unknowingly purchased salmon exposed to harmful chemicals.
- Consumer Trust: The revelations undermine confidence in organic certifications.
- Environmental Harm: The use of such chemicals, whether in organic or non-organic farming, damages marine ecosystems.
Call for Action
GBF is urging consumers to exercise caution when purchasing organic salmon and is calling for stricter oversight and transparency in organic aquaculture standards.
Source: Press Release
