Fear of Sushi

Last night I watched a CTV News bit about the levels of toxicity in farmed salmon from Europe and North America. It was talking about the results published in this article (subscription required) in Science magazine that revealed some alarming facts about the levels of chemicals in farmed salmon (and presumably, other farmed fish as well). Now I’m a big Sushi fan. Particularly a fan of salmon sushi. Even more particularly, salmon sashimi. Of course, the vast majority of sushi salmon I’ve ever eaten has been farmed salmon. The one or two times I ate wild salmon sushi, it cost prohibitively more. The article apparently recommends that people limit their intake to 1 or 2 servings per month and that women of childbearing age should avoid it all together (this may be CTV fear-izing the article). Which is shitty.

So today, of course, I have a total craving for sushi, but it’s moderated by this new paranoia, and so I don’t have any. So not only did I deprive myself of one of my favourite foods, heretofore thought of as a fairly healthy indulgence, but I’ve also fallen victim to something I always laugh about: the fear-mongering of television news reporting.

I’m sure once of the memory of the segment fades, I’ll go back to senselessly gobbling up salmon sushi, but for the next while, looks like no more salmon sushi for me, which essentially means no more sushi for me. Waah!

10 Replies to “Fear of Sushi”

  1. There was a report a number of months ago about the toxins in tuna and bigger fish due to pollution and this was in regular waters. The same recommendations were given – pregnant women should avoid it, etc…

  2. There was a report a number of months ago about the toxins in tuna and bigger fish due to pollution and this was in regular waters. The same recommendations were given – pregnant women should avoid it, etc…

  3. You make a good point, Mr. B. However, I don’t regularly see reports on TV about restricting your land-meat intake to once a month or less. Of course, there’s other things to worry about. But I think my personal take on this is that any study that shows that our current methods suck, and point to ways to grow meat more safely, perhaps more ethically also, is a good thing. Better quality food is always a goal.

  4. You make a good point, Mr. B. However, I don’t regularly see reports on TV about restricting your land-meat intake to once a month or less. Of course, there’s other things to worry about. But I think my personal take on this is that any study that shows that our current methods suck, and point to ways to grow meat more safely, perhaps more ethically also, is a good thing. Better quality food is always a goal.

  5. I’ve always tried to avoid farmed fish. You know what they feed them? Fish Chow. This is the reason I no longer eat trout. Now, I don’t know for sure but I asked out at KoKo’s once about the origins of their salmon and they said they only buy wild salmon. Whether it’s true (or still true, it was years ago that i asked) I don’t know, but there’s no doubt that their salmon is darker and yummier than most other places, so I still eat there with the belief I’m eating wild salmon. And if it’s any indication, there’s no such thing as a crab stick at KoKo’s. You order something with crab, you get crab (eg California Rolls). So, more reasons why KoKo’s on Hastings about 2 blocks past commercial on the north side of the street is the best place for sushi without paying a fortune for it.

  6. I’ve always tried to avoid farmed fish. You know what they feed them? Fish Chow. This is the reason I no longer eat trout. Now, I don’t know for sure but I asked out at KoKo’s once about the origins of their salmon and they said they only buy wild salmon. Whether it’s true (or still true, it was years ago that i asked) I don’t know, but there’s no doubt that their salmon is darker and yummier than most other places, so I still eat there with the belief I’m eating wild salmon. And if it’s any indication, there’s no such thing as a crab stick at KoKo’s. You order something with crab, you get crab (eg California Rolls). So, more reasons why KoKo’s on Hastings about 2 blocks past commercial on the north side of the street is the best place for sushi without paying a fortune for it.

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