Farmed salmon beats wild-caught “hands down”

The test was conducted by The Washington Post, who described the results as “definitive and surprising” - farmed salmon beat wild salmon, and the overall winner was farmed frozen Atlantic salmon (Norwegian) from Costco. However, this may have been because the fish was packed in a 4% salt solution, which many of the tasters liked, so was not strictly comparable to the other samples, as they were lightly salted and steamed.

The next three top-rated fish, with closely grouped scores, were also farmed: Trader Joe’s, from Norway; Loch Duart, from Scotland; and Verlasso from Chile.

The tasters could not consistently tell which samples were farmed and which were wild.

Although farmed salmon definitely came out on top, Ancora chef-restaurateur Bob Kinkead seemed disheartened that there was so little difference among the fish. “None stood out and said, ‘Buy me,’ ” he said.

Results of the test (overall ratings 1-10, 10 being the highest score):

1. Costco farmed Atlantic, frozen in 4% salt solution, from Norway (7.6 out of 10)
2. Trader Joe’s farmed Atlantic, from Norway (6.4)
3. Loch Duart farmed Atlantic, from Scotland (6.1)
4. Verlasso farmed Atlantic, from Chile (6)
5. Whole Foods farmed Atlantic salmon, from Scotland (5.6)
6. ProFish wild king (netted), from Willapa Bay, Wash. (5.3)
7. AquaChile farmed Atlantic, from Chile (4.9)
8. ProFish wild coho (trolled), from Alaska (4.4)
9. ProFish wild king (trolled), from Willapa Bay (4)
10. Costco wild coho, from Alaska (3.9)