While wild salmon still reigned supreme, its much cheaper farmed brother gained a questionable reputation.

Recently, Time Magazine summed up the downsides of farmed salmon in a scathing critique, calling farmed fish an industrialized imposter that endangers our health and harms our planet. The authors point out that farmed fish are bred in cramped cages to grow quickly, and that the enclosures are teeming with parasites and diseases that can only be combatted through the massive use of pesticides and antibiotics.

The feed pellets were similarly shredded and contained a mixture of fish meal, vegetables and animal by-products.

Superfood or worrying species?

Wild salmon is considered a “species of concern” in some parts of the world, and farmed salmon has mixed reviews. So why do doctors still call salmon a superfood?

In the Time interview, medical experts discussed unclear salmon practices and what to eat. “It’s confusing, and I suspect there’s intentional confusion,” said Dr. Leonardo Trasande, a professor of environmental medicine at New York University. Time Reporter.

“We know that with every fish there is a trade-off between omega-3 content and toxic ingredients such as PCBs. From the perspective of salmon in general, this balance speaks in favor of eating the fish,” explains Trasande. “The challenge now is that I cannot say which salmon was farmed correctly or incorrectly.”

Trasande is not alone in his opinion. Many experts and scientific studies have questioned the blanket claim that salmon is part of a healthy diet if it comes from free-range farming. However, the fish labels rarely contain information about farming methods or the medicines used in the farming process.

The truth: Which fish farms are considered sustainable?

Of course, not all farmed fish are created equal. Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch offers guidelines for evaluating fish farms. Some experts praise certain salmon farms for their healthier approach and drug-free strategies.

The problem is educating consumers about the differences between types of fish. While wild-caught salmon is usually well labeled, farmed fish labels are ambiguous. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) hasn’t even properly described what falls under the definition of “organic salmon” — at least until now.

New US regulations are coming

Mary Clare Jalonick of the Associated Press reports that after more than a decade of delays, the U.S. government is now adopting definitions for “organically farmed salmon,” “pen-raised salmon” and other species. The government’s descriptions and labels will allow consumers to make informed purchases. Experts expect the labels will also establish new industry standards.

The USDA plans to propose standards for fish farming, including salmon, that will define what constitutes organic fish farming. However, implementing these new measures could take two years or more, assuming seafood companies accept these changes.

Still, the question remains: Is farmed salmon OK? Health information website Healthline leans that way, categorizing farmed and wild salmon similarly. Healthline’s list of salmon benefits is wondrous, from reducing inflammation to reducing heart attack risk. But those views could change with the USDA’s upcoming classification changes.

Why is salmon so healthy?

In short, salmon is an ideal source of proteins, healthy fats, and several important vitamins and minerals – such as the much-vaunted omega-3 fatty acids. Unlike most other fats, experts emphasize the necessity of omega-3 fats. Healthline points out the nature of omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential for your heart, brain, and metabolism.

However, the human body cannot produce Omega-3 on its own; we must consume it. Salmon is not only healthy, but also easy to prepare and can be used in dozens of recipes, which explains its legendary status in the seafood world.

The USDA’s proposed changes affect not only salmon, but also many farmed seafood, such as tilapia, catfish, shrimp, and mollusks like mussels, oysters, and clams. Like salmon, shrimp and mollusks face a similar battle with market analysts. Despite seemingly endless ways to prepare popular shrimp and succulent mussels, consumers are raising concerns about the safety of “aquaculture-raised” and “wild-caught” seafood. Hopefully, new regulations will answer some of these questions – at least in the United States.

The same questions are being asked elsewhere in the world. Japan recently pioneered the farming of bluefin tuna, which is an industry first. In addition, Norway remains the industry leader in salmon farming. Following recent moves in the US, global standards for fish farming are next on the discussion block.

This article was created by Media Decision and syndicated by Wealth of Geeks.