Demystifying Color Added Salmon: Getting to the Bottom of Those Grocery Store Labels

Salmon is one of the most popular and nutritious fish on the market. Rich in protein, omega-3 fatty acids, and other essential nutrients, it’s no wonder salmon remains a consumer favorite. However, the next time you’re perusing the seafood section of your local grocery store, you may notice an interesting label on some salmon packages: “color added.” This mysterious phrasing often leaves shoppers scratching their heads, wondering what exactly it means and if it affects the quality of the fish.

In this article, we’ll get to the bottom of the meaning behind color added salmon, why it’s used, and whether it’s something you should be concerned about as a consumer Let’s dive right in and demystify those confusing grocery store labels!

What Does “Color Added” Actually Mean?

When you see a label for salmon that says “color added,” it simply means that the salmon was fed a diet containing a natural pigment called astaxanthin Astaxanthin is a carotenoid, the same family of pigments that gives flamingos their vibrant pink feathers and lobsters their reddish hue when cooked.

In the wild, salmon obtain astaxanthin by eating krill, shrimp, and other small crustaceans that are naturally rich in this pigment. On fish farms, the salmon feed doesn’t contain enough natural sources of astaxanthin, so it’s directly added to their diet in order to achieve the proper orange-pink color in their flesh.

So in short, “color added” salmon contains extra astaxanthin in its feed to replicate the flesh color that wild salmon would normally have from their diet in the wild. It’s not artificial coloring or dyes just a natural carotenoid supplement.

Why Do Salmon Farmers Add Color to the Feed?

You might be wondering why fish farmers go through the trouble of adding astaxanthin to the feed if wild salmon get their color naturally.

The reason is that farmed salmon are raised in controlled environments, usually large net pens in the ocean or tanks on land. This allows the farmers to monitor their growth and health more easily, but it also means the salmon eat specifically formulated feed pellets instead of foraging like they would in nature.

Without access to the shrimp, krill, and other carotenoid-rich foods wild salmon eat, farmed salmon would have pale, unappetizing grey flesh without color additives in their feed.

Astaxanthin solves this problem by ensuring farmed salmon develop the familiar, appetizing pinkish-red hue consumers expect when buying salmon. It also replicates the nutritional profile of wild salmon, as astaxanthin is an important antioxidant for salmon health.

Benefits of Astaxanthin for Salmon and Humans

Astaxanthin does more than just impact the color of salmon flesh. It also provides some key health benefits:

• Powerful antioxidant effects – Astaxanthin is over 500 times stronger than vitamin E as an antioxidant, helping protect cells from damage.

• Supports the immune system – It stimulates the immune response in salmon and may have immune-boosting effects in humans.

• Anti-inflammatory properties – Astaxanthin exhibits natural anti-inflammatory activity that may promote joint, skin, and heart health.

• Improved cell function – It enhances the function of mitochondria, the “energy factories” that power cells in salmon and humans.

So while astaxanthin contributes to the expected salmon color, it’s far more than a cosmetic additive and actually enhances the nutritional value of salmon fed a supplemented diet.

Natural vs Synthetic Astaxanthin

While astaxanthin always results in the same red-orange hue in salmon flesh, there are two sources used in fish feed:

• Natural astaxanthin – Derived from marine sources like krill, algae, or yeast. Provides true natural salmon color but is more expensive.

• Synthetic astaxanthin – Made from petrochemicals in a lab. Cheaper but some consumers prefer natural sources. Chemically identical to natural astaxanthin.

Many salmon farms now use natural algae or yeast to produce astaxanthin sustainably without harvesting wild krill. However, synthetic astaxanthin is common as well due to the lower cost.

While the synthetic version is molecularly the same as natural astaxanthin, some consumers prefer food dyes and pigments from non-petrochemical sources. Check for “natural color” or the source of the astaxanthin if this is an important factor for you.

Should You Be Concerned about Color Added Salmon?

When it comes down to it, the “color added” label is not anything to be worried about in terms of food safety or quality. The FDA and other regulatory agencies consider astaxanthin supplements in salmon feed to be completely safe and acceptable.

The color addition also does not mean the salmon is artificially dyed – it simply restores the pinkish-red hue that wild salmon would naturally exhibit from the carotenoids in their diet.

That said, you may opt to buy wild-caught salmon to avoid any color enhancements or choose brands that use natural astaxanthin from algae or other sources. Overall, however, color added salmon is nutritionally very similar to wild and an acceptable option for shoppers seeking an affordable source of salmon.

The Takeaway on Color Added Salmon

Hopefully this breakdown has removed some of the mystery surrounding the meaning of “color added” labels on store-bought salmon. Here are some key takeaways:

• It means natural astaxanthin pigment has been added to the feed to achieve the expected salmon color.

• The additive mimics the carotenoid content wild salmon get from their natural diet.

• Astaxanthin has health benefits for the salmon and provides antioxidant power.

• Both natural (algae) and synthetic (petrochemically produced) astaxanthin are used.

• Color enhancement is safe and regulated but some shoppers opt for wild salmon or brands that use natural astaxanthin sources.

So be adventurous and give that color-enhanced salmon a try for a nutritious meal! Now that you know what those labels mean, you can shop the seafood aisle with confidence and take advantage of deals on this versatile and tasty fish.