March 16, 2011

Wegmans debuts Irish-based organic salmon

In response to growing consumer demand for all things organic, Wegmans Food Market has begun selling farmed organic salmon from Ireland in all of its stores.

The salmon, sold under the chain's Food You Feel Good About label, does not carry the USDA organic stamp because no such rules exist yet for seafood. The fish is certified organic by the Irish Organic Farmers and Growers Certification.

Murphy's Irish Seafood raises the fish in covered, double-netted pens to help prevent escaped fish. Wegmans spokeswoman Jeanne Colleluori, said the concentration of fish allowed in these pens is two-thirds fewer than conventionally farmed salmon, and water flow is substantial to mimic a natural environment. These measures reduce pollution from fish farming.

The feed is a blend of organically grown and sustainably sourced ingredients and contains astaxanthin, the coloring agent used in conventionally farmed salmon to mimic the coral shade of wild-caught salmon. Wegmans does not accept fish treated with antibiotics, which are allowed in certain cases under veterinary supervision. Each fish is tagged and fully traceable.

The organic Irish salmon tested below allowable Food and Drug Administration levels for PCBs (200 parts per billion), a carcinogen linked to conventionally farmed salmon. The Irish organic salmon tests slightly under or just above the EPA limit of 11 PPB, Colleluori said. The chain's regular farmed salmon typically tests around 50 PPB for PCBs. EPA standards are set for environmental concerns, not food safety, she adds.

A shipment is due in stores on Thursday (Mar 17) and will be for sale through Sunday (Mar 20), or until supplies last. It is not clear when or how frequently future shipments will be available, as the supplier has to allow the pens to lie fallow for a period in accordance to EU organic standards, Colleluori said. The chain may suspend organic salmon sales during wild salmon season, andbring the product back after the wild salmon season closes. "At this point, we are excited to offer it. We feel it is a good in-between step," she said.