Quote:
Originally Posted by Kelevision
They add a chemical called astaxanthin in their food. Without the chemical in their feed, the farm-raised salmon would naturally be white.
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Here is the exact situation with farm raised salmon..... same primary sources for astaxanthin - which is GOOD for you no matter the source. In the business.
Is Salmon Dyed? The Truth Behind the Color of Farmed Salmon
Salmon are unable to produce astaxanthin on their own, so they accumulate it through their diet. The more astaxanthin-containing prey they eat, the redder their flesh becomes. Some species like sockeye salmon consume more of these pigmented foods and so have deeper red flesh. Other species like chinook salmon eat more fish and have paler meat.
So contrary to myth wild salmon are naturally pink – not gray. Their coloration comes from their natural diet.
Do Farmed Salmon Need Dye?
Aquaculture nutritionists make pelleted food that farmed salmon eat while they are raised in pens. To ensure optimal health and color, astaxanthin is added to their feed. Without this supplement, farmed salmon would be pale gray.
The astaxanthin for farm-raised salmon comes from natural sources like algae and yeast. It is the exact same pigment that makes wild salmon pink. There are no artificial dyes or color additives used.
The flesh color of salmon, whether wild or farmed, depends on how much astaxanthin they consume. Farmers can adjust dietary levels to achieve the desired pinkness. But the pigment itself is 100% natural, just like in wild fish.
Watch for Copper River Salmon in Costco. They fly it in fresh to their warehouses when the season starts (mid May until mid June or so) for about 3-4 weeks at a price better than anywhere. They set the season sometime in early May and it can be mid to late May (normally around May 15th/16th. It freezes very well so stock up!