Aqua Star salmon has become a regular pantry staple for many households that enjoy seafood. As one of the major farmed salmon producers in the U.S., Aqua Star takes pride in providing high-quality salmon products. But with any seafood, it’s smart to look into how and where it was sourced.
In this comprehensive article, we’ll investigate Aqua Star’s sustainability practices, safety standards, health benefits, and potential risks Read on to get the full scoop so you can decide if Aqua Star salmon is safe for your family to eat
Overview of Aqua Star Salmon
Founded in 1989, Aqua Star is one of the main U.S. suppliers of farm-raised salmon. They sell fresh, frozen, smoked, and other salmon products under their recognizable blue brand label.
Aqua Star has salmon farm operations certified by Global Aquaculture Alliance’s Best Aquaculture Practices in Chile, Norway, Scotland, Canada and Alaska. The company states that all of their facilities adhere to FDA and USDA seafood regulations.
Sourcing and Farming Practices
Aqua Star obtains salmon from both wild fisheries and aquaculture farms
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Wild salmon is sourced sustainably from Alaska, Washington and Oregon using responsible fishing practices. Wild salmon generally has less contaminants than farmed.
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Farmed salmon comes from Aqua Star’s own operations in Chile, Norway and Canada. The fish are hatchery-raised in contained pens and fed an FDA-approved diet to control contaminants.
Aqua Star says they follow strict protocols to prevent farmed salmon contamination. But some studies find higher antibiotic resistance and other risks versus wild salmon.
Testing for Safety and Quality Control
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All Aqua Star salmon imported into the U.S. is tested by the FDA.
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Aqua Star also conducts in-house testing for mercury, antibiotics, bacteria and other contaminants.
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Processing facilities are GFSI-certified for food safety compliance.
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Product sampling checks quality, texture, color and other attributes.
While internal policies look robust, there is limited third-party verification.
Potential Health Risks
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Chemicals like PCBs and pesticides may be elevated in farmed salmon from Chile and Norway. However, Aqua Star claims their purification processes reduce contaminants.
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Antibiotic resistant bacteria is a concern with any farmed seafood. Cooking to proper temperatures eliminates this risk.
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Parasites can be present in raw salmon. Aqua Star recommends against eating raw unless it is frozen sushi-grade product.
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Mercury exposure is a risk with any seafood. Limit children’s intake to recommended 4 oz. portions.
So while risks exist, they seem reduced by Aqua Star’s practices when following cooking guidelines.
The Health Benefits of Salmon
Despite some cautions, eating salmon provides great nutrition. Salmon delivers:
- High-quality protein
- Abundant omega-3 fatty acids
- Vitamin D
- Selenium
- Astaxanthin
- B vitamins
These nutrients boost heart, brain, skin, and joint health. The American Heart Association recommends eating salmon at least two times per week to get these benefits.
Is Aqua Star Salmon Worth Eating?
While no seafood is risk-free, salmon’s health perks likely outweigh potential issues for most people. Aqua Star abides by industry safety standards, so their salmon provides nutritional value with moderated risks.
Here are my tips for safely enjoying Aqua Star salmon:
- Review recall advisories and purchase products with clear labeling.
- Cook to 145°F minimum internal temperature.
- Limit children to recommended serving sizes.
- Choose wild-caught varieties when possible to reduce contaminants.
- Eat a variety of seafood, including omega-3 rich sardines, mackerel, and trout.
With sound choices, Aqua Star salmon can be part of a healthy lifestyle. As with any food, moderation and variety is key.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does Aqua Star get their salmon?
Aqua Star sources salmon both wild-caught from Alaska, Washington and Oregon as well as farm-raised from their own aquaculture sites in Chile, Norway, Scotland and Canada.
Is Aqua Star salmon farm-raised or wild?
Aqua Star offers both farm-raised salmon and wild Pacific salmon. Their wild salmon comes from sustainable fisheries in Alaska.
What types of salmon does Aqua Star sell?
Some popular Aqua Star salmon varieties include Sockeye, Coho, Atlantic, and Steelhead. They sell these in fresh, frozen, and smoked forms.
Is frozen salmon from China safe to eat?
While some salmon is processed in China, it can still be safe if adequately tested. Aqua Star claims to meet U.S. standards even for their imported frozen salmon products.
Can pregnant women eat Aqua Star salmon?
Pregnant women should take caution with any type of seafood. To be safe, they should consume salmon no more than 2-3 times a month and stick to smaller 4 oz portions.
Does Aqua Star salmon need to be refrigerated?
Yes, both fresh and thawed Aqua Star salmon should be kept refrigerated at 40°F or below for food safety and quality. Use within 2 days of thawing.
What’s the best way to cook Aqua Star salmon?
Popular cooking methods include baking, grilling, broiling, pan searing, or poaching. Cook to an internal temperature of at least 145°F.
How should I store Aqua Star fresh salmon?
Fresh salmon should be stored in the coldest part of the refrigerator for 2-3 days max. Place in moisture-proof wrapping or an airtight container.
What are the health benefits of salmon?
Salmon provides high-quality protein, omega-3 fatty acids, B vitamins, selenium, and other nutrients that support heart health, brain function, healthy skin and joints.
Does Aqua Star have sustainability certifications?
Yes, Aqua Star’s salmon farms are certified by Global Aquaculture Alliance’s Best Aquaculture Practices as well as Aquaculture Stewardship Council.
Is Wild-Caught Salmon Safe?
With all this talk of farmed fish, you’d think that wild-caught fish was completely safe, but there are some issues depending on where you get the fish from.
The pollution that humans exact on the land is apparent in the water and will get taken up by seafood. So with wild-caught salmon, you’ll find various degrees of PCBs, metaformin, mercury and some other pollutants based on the location. In other words, the cleaner the rivers and streams are, the safer the salmon.
Studies in the early 200s found high levels of PCBs in farmed fish vs. wild-caught salmon. That forced some farmed fish operations to use less fish stock in fish feed, but when it comes to wild-caught fish, there is very little you can do about the natural environment short of cleaning it up.
However, even with the cleanup of the industry, wild-caught is still preferable most of the time.
What About Farmed Fish on Land In Tanks That Never Touch the Ocean?
There’s lots of excitement around an aquaculture company, Atlantic Sapphire®, setting up shop in the Florida Everglades led by two young and hip Norwegian fishermen. These young high tech Norwegians got their start by selling “cleanerfish” to Norwegian fisherman, which are used to kill sea lice on farmed Atlantic Salmon instead of using antibiotics and other drugs. They then started up a land farmed organic fish operation that quickly became Whole Food’s main supply of farmed fish.
Looking to expand into the United States and decrease the amount of fossil fuels needed to ship Norwegian Salmon to Americans, they’ve purchased a tomato farm, which is over the perfect hydrological conditions for breeding farmed fish on the land inside the Florida Everglades. The underground aquifers provide the freshwater to support the Atlantic Salmon when they are young, then abundant saltwater that mimics when they go out to sea to fatten up and mature. The water in those tanks are circulated to mimic natural currents, filtered to remove waste, oxygenated to help them breathe easier, and then monitored closely to prevent death.
By 2031, Atlantic Sapphire® plans to grow 220,000 annual tons of Atlantic Salmon, which will be about 44% of US salmon consumption on 160-acre tract that once grew 5,000 tons of tomatoes per year.
Referred to as The Bluehouse™, Politico describes it as “a high-tech experiment in productivity and sustainability, a supersized aquatic version of greenhouse agriculture that aims to solve a host of environmental problems plaguing conventional salmon farms in coastal waters.”
Proponents of sustainable aquaculture say “Its red-fleshed fish are growing without antibiotics or pesticides, without exposure to seaborne diseases or parasites, without escapes that could allow them to endanger wild fish, and without damage to the overfished and overpolluted oceans.”
Will this work out? I think it depends on what fish feed they end up using. Over an interview on the phone, they told us they were considering using “single-cell algae oil” (which we discovered is made through synthetic biology), other vegetable oils, or black soldier fly meal. We’re hoping they go with the black soldier fly meal.