A controversial paper published in the journal Science claims that European farmed salmon contain significantly higher levels of carcinogens (cancer-causing agents) than their wild counterparts.
The scientists concluded that the levels of contaminants in farmed salmon were high enough to warrant a restriction on the amount consumed. They suggest eating no more than one portion of farmed salmon (approximately 227g) each month.
Some of the fish tested from Scotland were so high in contaminants that the amount the scientists considered safe to consume was just one portion every four months, otherwise there could be an increased risk of cancer.
Scottish salmon producers have criticised the report as sensationalist and claim that it attacks the salmon industry, which tries hard to keep the fish low in contaminants, rather than attacking the companies responsible for introducing the pollutants into the marine environment.