NFI said in a press statement Tuesday afternoon that it "supports the safety and proven health benefits of farmed and wild salmon, fish that are extremely high in heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids and extremely low in contaminants."

The report by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) claims that farmed salmon purchased at Safeway, Whole Foods, Albertsons and other U.S. supermarkets tested high in PCBs (Polychlorinated Biphenyls), a suspected cancer-causing agent.

“The EWG is irresponsibly frightening consumers,” said John P. Connelly, president of the NFI, a non-profit trade association representing companies involved in all aspects of the fish and seafood industry. “The food safety of farmed salmon products and other commercial fish and seafood is regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The trace levels of PCBs reportedly found in farmed salmon by the EWG study are well below tolerance levels set by the FDA. The allegations of food safety risk found in the EWG report appear to be a part of a broader effort to limit consumer choice for affordable healthy seafood choices, namely farmed salmon."

Dr. Charles Santerre, an associate professor of Foods and Nutrition at Purdue University and Institute of Food Technology spokesperson, said in the NFI statement, "The EWG’s entire calculation is based on only 10 samples. It is potentially risky to the public health of American consumers to discourage eating a healthy food choice based on ten salmon samples. The methodology and assumptions in the report should be carefully evaluated by FDA, the primary food safety agency for commercial fish and seafood, to determine whether they are appropriate and scientifically sound.”

A similar report by Dr. Michael Easton, funded by the Suzuki Foundation, has come under scrutiny for its small sample size of eight fish.

Joining NFI in its challenge of the report's findings, the group Salmon of the Americas, in a press statement, said, "The EWG, as stated in their report, wishes to change the system and use EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) guidelines developed for their recreational fish advisory system in place of existing FDA (Food And Drug Administration) regulations for the allowable level of PCBs in farmed salmon. EPA is not recognized as a competent authority in matters related to food safety or nutrition."

The British Columbia Salmon Farmers Association (BCSFA) also responded to the report. In a released statement, Executive Director Mary Ellen Walling stated that "[t]he data contained within the report is misleading and the conclusions drawn are illogical. British Columbia farm salmon has been proven to be safe to eat and nutrition experts agree it is an important part of a healthy diet."

To read the report, posted on EWG's website, click here.

Salmon farmers challenge report linking farmed salmon and cancer