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Farmed tilapia may be no better for you than a doughnut

CARLY WEEKS

From Wednesday's Globe and Mail

Latest comment posted at 1:47 PM EST 12/08/08

U.S. research finds that farmed tilapia have low levels of omega-3 fatty acids - and surprisingly high levels of potentially detrimental omega-6 fatty acids ...Read the full article

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  1. n m from Canada writes: Having comparable amounts of omega 6 fatty acids as those found in a doughnut is a far cry from "being no better for you" than a doughnut. Unless lean chicken is also no better for you than a doughnut (another food with high levels of omega 6).

    Hyperbole has no place in science writing. Stop emulating lesser news publications please.
  2. Emilio Garazgos from Kanata, Canada writes: Dollars to doughnuts that this "study" was funded by farmed salmon interests.
  3. gilles monenemie from Montreal, Canada writes: You are what you eat..and the fish aren't that happy about eating all that palm oil either. Industrial fish farming is toxic food, there is a need for organic fish farming to prevent excessive consumption of wild fish.
  4. Overtaxed and underlaid from Canada writes: The conclusion of the study, way down at the end of the article, is that the vegetable oils fed to the farmed fish were the reason for the high levels of Omega-6. The solution seems clear - find another food for the tilapia.

    This is a poorly written article, long on hyperbole and short on factual take-aways for the reader, as n m noted above.
  5. R M from Ottawa, Canada writes: Stop ALL farmed fish.
  6. Dave Medich from Windsor, Canada writes:

    There's something really fishy going on here!

    .
  7. dave ross from Canada writes: Not only is the article hyperbolic but the study is, in my opinion, beyond worthless. Far down in the article there is the nugget that they have not compared the omega 3/6 levels in the farmed tilapia with the wild tilapia.

    That the Globe and Mail is a shadow of its former self is readily apparent to anyone who has read it for more than 5 years. That it is rapidly becoming a self-parody is disappointing and disheartening.
  8. Jay Wortman MD from West Vancouver, Canada writes: The North American diet does contain far too much omega-6 but I am not sure how much tilapia contributes to that - probably not much. I can't remember the last time I ate it. The biggest source of omega-6 is vegetable oil consumed, not by fish, but by us. You should avoid the major industrial products like corn oil, soya oil, etc. and watch for them in processed and packaged foods, too. Stick to mainly olive oil, some canola and, of course, butter.
  9. Never Wrong from sunnyvale, Canada writes: the headline is crap - what sensationlist nonsense. Might make sense for the entertainment section but not the health section.
    did Ms. Weeks even do any of her own research or just regurgitate the report she cited?
    Did anyone else notice the stark lack of detail of how much Omega-6 is too much and how much O-3 is enough? How much does a serving of doughnuts have vs. a normal sized portion (please quantify each portion). Isn't that basic fact based journalism?
  10. Murray Braithwaite from Canada writes: The good news is that researchers, and hopefully farmers, are starting to pay more attention to the effect of feed on nutritive value. There is a lot of reseach, for example, on the effect of feed on the fatty acid profile of cow's milk and beef. (See the University of Wisconsin websote for many references.) Pasture fed cows get a wider assortment of fatty acids from the grass, hay and flowers. Grain-fed animals churn out long-chain saturated fats from the starch/sugar. Further, the gut becomes acidic from too much grain and kills bacteria required to form conjugated linoleic acid. Rigorous experiments show that some vegetable oils added to bovine diet improve fatty acid profiles (specifically those containing linoleic and linolenic acid). The problem is not the fact cows are farmed, but the whole approach taken by the farmer. Milk from producers seeking highest volume and butter fat is sure to be less healthy than cattle grazed on pastures designed to provide a variety of grasses and flowers. Alpine cattle, for example, have more omega-3 in their milk and meat because the plants have fatty acids profiles to resist becoming solid in colder weather. It follows that milk or cheese might or might not be healthy depending on how the cattle were raised. Using a milk marketing board, for example, removes all incentive to produce quality milk. This article should be a warning to consumers that they demand quality food instead of simply cheaper food.
  11. Jeff Kelly from Kitchener, Canada writes: Sounds like a lot of Tilapia eaters posting on here don't much like the results of the survey.

    Get over the headline. In some contexts, such as people on a high-fish diet trying to increase Omega-3 fatty acids, and lower cholesterol, these farmed Tilapia are indeed no better than a doughnut, and perhaps worse.

    As a couple of other posters have noted, the feed given to these fish is a major concern, and may be something that can be fixed. For those people constantly slagging the Globe, I suggest you go read the drivel passing for news at the National Post; you'll quickly yearn for the fact-based journalism going on here at the Globe.

    The only potential negative in the article was the scientist at the end urging people to eat wild fish instead of farmed. Unfortunately, the overfishing of the oceans is leaving the larder a bit bare... I'd far rather they improve the farming than sucking all fish out of the ocean.
  12. P Scott from Canada writes: Article failed to mention that you can consume enough omega-3 fatty acids to offset the omega-6 fatty acids and reduce the harm.

    But we're all about the fear, aren't we?
  13. Commander Groovechild from Canada writes: This explains why Tilapia tastes so good. I will personally eat Tilapia into extinction. So-oooh yummy.
  14. Tony . from Waterloo, Canada writes:
    Results from my own personal study demonstrate that tilapia (farmed or otherwise) is tasteless mush.

    Give me salmon, tuna (real stuff, not the canned kind), catfish, snapper, halibut, or really just about anything else. Tilapia? Bleah!

    To each his/her own though I guess.
  15. Mowho33 Who from Canada writes: I like tilapia, as a non-fish lover. But I agree that these farmers need to use a feed for the fish that is as close to their natural feed as possible. This should be something that can be fixed. Nothing like a bit of bad publicity to light a fire under their butts, but I suppose they will only change if we stop buying the stuff.
  16. Brad Pitt from United States writes: Give me a big, juicy, artery clogging burger any day!
  17. The Natrix from Toronto, Canada writes: Talapia on a nice summer bbq, with some beer and the fixings... can't beat that!

    Oshmega 6. In moderation, and at good times, nottta problem.
  18. Adrian Howell from Toronto, Canada writes: TONY from WATERLOO, I'm with you...I want my fish to taste like, well...fish!! I can't remember the last time I bought canned fish or seafood of any kind...catfish, salmon, tuna...Mmmmmmmmm!!!

    Tilapia? Ugh.
  19. Mi Mo from Alberta, Canada writes: Frustrating! Tilapia are the farmed fish you can eat with a clean conscience, because they aren't fed "fish meal" (ground up wild ocean fish) and are farmed in freshwater ponds.
    So, tilapia for dessert instead now?
  20. Soon2be Grey from Toronto, Ontario, Canada writes: That reminds me, I haven't had fresh ceviche in a long time. Off to the St Lawrence Market for some tilapia, shrimp and scallops!
  21. daniel saliken from Vancouver, Canada writes: That was bad reporting, regarding research, facts, and context. Its because journalists in general went to university to be writers out of a passion for words and their dream is to write a sweeping novel about love on a windswept prairie.

    Then they have to get a job and they get stuck writing about icky stuff they don't understand like the UN crisis in Africa or economic cycles and the impact on inflation. This becomes the nation's source for expert insight into world issues. If stuck, better to find an expert that writes poorly, then a novelist seeking employment.
  22. Susan Rogan from Canada writes: You do not have to eat ANY fish or meat to get your omega 3. Olive oil supplies one of the three omega three's, and your body will convert it to the other two types. From a website on the chemistry of olive oil:

    "There are 3 main Omega-3 fatty acids:

    - ALA (Alpha-Linolenic Acid) - found in dark green leafy vegetables, seeds, nuts, and a variety of vegetable oils like olive oil.
    - EPA (EicosoPentaenoic Acid) - found in cold water fish like salmon, cod, mackerel, and tuna
    - DHA (DocosaHexaenoic Acid) - fish - same as above

    A healthy body can convert ALA to EPA and DHA so a diet rich in the seed oil alpha Linolenic acid does not need fish oil."

    Be warned however that according to this site, there is a lot of Omega 6 in olive oil. However, they also say that the body requires a lot of omega 6, kind of in contrast with what the Globe article is saying about it being dangerous to some people..
  23. Susan Rogan from Canada writes: Olive oil is 10% omega 6 fatty acid, and 1% omega 3. So there is a lot of both in it. The site I read says that this is perfectly in balance with the ratio of what the body needs, ie you should eat 10:1 Omega 6:Omega 3.

    'Too much' is relative and not simply a number. I agree that this article is superficial, but it IS a starting point for your own research into the issue of fatty acids and their effects.

    As a person with asthma, I appreciate this article very much. It has provided me with a direction for further investigation into the possible triggers of my own condition.
  24. Brad Pitt from United States writes: A burger from the BBQ is 100% pure tasty
  25. No Name Necessary from Canada writes: From what I've read farmed fish is not as good as people think.
  26. Political Junkie from Canada writes: A friend told me that most of his journalism student classmates were there for the same reason: inability to pass high school math and no grasp of science or economics.

    It shows in Canadian journalism.
  27. Tom Frese from Miami, United States writes: Great job Ms. Weeks. Way to do your research first.

    You want real facts? Here is the breakdown of USDA data on Tilapia vs. McDonald's hamburger. The data has been calibrated to a 105 gram sample of each for an equal and fair comparison.

    Category: Tilapia vs. McDonald's Hamburger
    Total fat: 2g, 10g
    Saturated fat: .75g, 4g
    Cholesterol: 52mg, 30mg
    Sodium: 3.75% ADA, 23% ADA
    Carbs: 0% ADA, 12% ADA
    Protein: 21g, 12g
    Calories: 101, 280
    ADA = Average Daily Allowance

    Tilapia has lower fat, lower saturated fat, higher cholesterol (like most seafood), lower sodium, no carbs, higher protein and fewer calories. It's a healthy food and one of the most sustainable farm-raised fish on the planet.

    Maybe you should actually do the same comparison for a doughnut before posting this sensationalist garbage!

    Regards,
    Tom Frese
    President
    AquaSol, Inc.
    www.fishfarming.com
  28. E Stuhl from NYC, United States writes: with articles like this, one has to wonder what the editors are thinking? are you trying to make your newspaper irrelevant? (like the NY Times "business" section)
  29. R. M. from Regina, Canada writes: Sigh.......again more evidence that what thinking we know something is a lot different than knowing something and that in reality we really know very little!
  30. Murray Braithwaite from Canada writes: Plant-derived omega-3 is not nearly as good source of omega-3 as animal sources. Most of the benefits of omega-3 comes from docosahexanoic acid (DHA) which is a 22-carbon fatty acid. Alpha linolenic acid (ALA) is an 18 carbon chain fatty acid. The body is relatively inefficient in making this conversion, as it requires many metabolic steps to convert ALA into EPA (20 carbon chain omega-3) and then EPA into DHA.

    There is considerable disagreement on the optimal ratio of omega-3 to omega-6. Most sources I read argue that 3:1 of omega-6 to omega-3 is optimal, others argue for 1 to 1. Most sources I read argue that a ratio of 10:1 is far too much omega-6 and that typical North American diet is now about 30:1. Plainly more and better research is required.
  31. Susan Rogan from Canada writes: Flax oil is 1:1 omega 6:omega 3; Canola is 3:1 or less.

    Thanks for the info on the bioavailability of the omega 3 in terms of the body's ability to convert it.

    I would rather not eat meat but do keep an open mind that some may be neccessary for an optimal diet.
  32. Susan Rogan from Canada writes: PS I'm just eating a salad here and I checked the back of my 'Organic Hemp Oil'.

    Per 14 g, you get 7g of omega 6 (LA), and 2.5 g omega 3 (ALA). So that's about 3:1, a little less.
  33. Murray Braithwaite from Canada writes: The nutrition data website (http://www.nutritiondata.com/facts/nut-and-seed-products/3163/2) shows that for 100 grams of flaxseed, 22.8 grams is omega-3 (ALA) and 5.9 grams is omega-6. I do not know if that is brown flax or yellow flax. Brown flax has slightly higher omega-3 than yellow flax, according to Agricultural Canada sources on the Internet (which are in the same range as Nutrition Data).

    I have yet to see a source that differentiates ALA, from EPA from DHA in terms of what is argued to be the optimal ratio of omega-6 to omega-3, even though each omega-3 has distinct metabolic effects. All that has been established from what I have seen is that omega-6 is pro-inflammatory, the various forms of omega-3 have varying degrees of anti-inflammatory effect, and the current North American diet has too much omega-6, especially for people with chronic inflammation.
  34. Susan Rogan from Canada writes: Thanks for that website Murray.

    We do not have all the facts yet, but things are better than they used to be. We can wake up to the fact that we can control our health problems through our diet, possibly even more effectively than with drugs. I suspect that diet is far more effective at dealing with health problems than drugs are but we just do not have all the information figured out yet.

    If eating a proper diet could be bottled and sold to create optimal health, we'd probably have a lot more information by now, but it IS coming along.
  35. gilles monenemie from Montreal, Canada writes: Tom Frese

    Do you ahve your fish on a diet of palm oil, what kind of vegetable oil do you feed, i bet your not giving them olive oil but the cheapest vegetable oil which just happens to be the least healthy for fish eaters. In egg production the omega levels are related to feeds and the same is true of tilipia, you guys need to clean up your act and feed fish a healthy diet that produces heathy fish for consumers.
  36. boris moris from vancouver, Canada writes: I'll just bet Tom Frese and other farm fish pushers must have all had litters of kittens when they saw this story today. Please don't grind up those kittens and feed them to your fish. Your product is already a health hazard.
  37. William Lim from Edmonton, Canada writes: In the US, tilapias feed on the waste excrement of sea bass.

    After taking out the farmed sea bass, they put in the tilapias to clean the tanks.
  38. Richard Daystrom from Toronto, Canada writes: I like donuts with my coffee. Can't say the same about tilapia.
  39. John Schramm from Vermont, United States writes: Please direct anyone who is concerned to www.abouttilapia.com , a non-partisan informational web site recently created in order to give consumers reference to more scientific and accurate information about tilapia.....Thanks "Out with the bad and in with the good"
  40. James MacDonald from Edmonton, Canada writes: What? My favourite fish is no good? Dang!
  41. Geoffrey May from Canada writes: It is a great shame that we use the worlds waterways as sewers, and allow draggers to destroy natural fish stocks and habitat. Fish farming is just another form of pollution.
  42. Jorly fuster from Canada writes: We eat Tilapia because all the Sea Bass is gone. What are we going to eat next as the oceans become overfished?
  43. slapdash dapoint from trawna, Canada writes: Emilio Garazgos from Kanata, Canada writes: Dollars to doughnuts that this "study" was funded by farmed salmon interests.

    dave ross from Canada writes: Not only is the article hyperbolic but the study is, in my opinion, beyond worthless. Far down in the article there is the nugget that they have not compared the omega 3/6 levels in the farmed tilapia with the wild tilapia.

    ----

    dave, that is the only thing that realy stands out for me from the article - didn't even bother comparing farmed to wild in the SAME species...

    which makes emilio's statement somewhat probable.
  44. John Schramm from Rutland, United States writes: Important to understand that most of the tilapia consumed in N. America is farm raised "skinless, boneless, fat layer removed" fillets (lean flesh/meat). In a recent study, it was found that the ratio of the above referenced product was 1.4:1 (that's one point four to one) Omega 6:3, not the 11:1 "found" in the "study". Nonetheless, Tilapia is surely "part" of a healthy diet......Low fat, low carbohydrate, high protein.......I'm sure we can all think of worse dinner alternatives.
  45. Jeff Pritchard from Canada writes: This nonsensical article is reminiscent of the "trees cause global warming" one that cropped up a few months back.

    Seriously G&M - what do you guys have against science reporting? And some people still wonder why mainstream media is losing credibility...
  46. Peter Walker from Canada writes: Somehow I just can't imagine a dozen Police cars outside a Tilapia styore, no matter how they're cooked - or not!!
  47. Julia Young from Vancouver, Canada writes: Catchy title! We should thank the reporter for bringing the research findings to our attention. What we ended up putting on our dinner table is still our choice. Tialpia fillets are reasonablely priced and easy to prepare. It is certainly very costly and time consuming trying to catch a wild salmon at sea! Most of the time we come home empty handed anyway!
  48. Brian Fisher from Ripon QC, Canada writes: This article fall in the same category as the one claiming that a Hummer uses less energy than a Prius. This is junk journalism. A bit of research (Thanks John Schramm from Rutland Vermont - www.abouttilapia.com) shows that the researcher referred to is in a conflict of interest and is using his so-called study with references to burgers and doughnuts as a means to hype his new book.

    It must be time for another "The Earth is Getting Colder" story.
  49. Gogh Forit from Canada writes: Who cares about getting the facts right. As long as they spell my name correctly in the byline.
  50. Robert Wager from Canada writes: Unfortunately this type of "science reporting" is the norm not the exception. It is almost impossible to get a science story with only positive outcomes into print. The usual case has some critic of said science gaininng a platform to spout a miriad of unsubstantiated myths about said science included in the article to give it "balance". Yet the media refuses to aknowledge that a Nobel Laureate is not on par with an activist for knowledge in a given subject. There is nothing balanced about their opinions regardless of what the media thinks.

    Now don't get me wrong. It is very difficult to write science stories for the general public. But that is not an excuse for poor science writing with negative (read fear generating) insertions to give "balance". I have significant experience trying to get positive science based articles in print. The main stream media rarely publish such. Without a fear factor the media will pass most times. Sad but true.

    On a good note it is very refreshing to see many on this forum have taken note of the poor quality of science reporting.
  51. zahira jeeva from toronto, Canada writes: Mention has been made several times about Omega 3 in flax. Remember that flax must be GROUND in order to utilitize any of the Omega 3. It's a shame as well that fear mongering may lead some people to not eat this fish and perhaps substitute truly unhealthy choices, such as donuts, burgers etc.
  52. Rao Byrapaneni from Fredericton, Canada writes: I am really surprised why the study did not compare with the Omega-6 levels in wild tilapia. Is that not comparing apples and oranges. I wonder what is the ulterior motive of the people who conducted the study?
  53. Joe V from Canada writes: No kidding. Farmed fish fed unnaturally high-fat diets, raised in enclosed spaces, and treated with antibiotics that are not approved for human use are unhealthy? Who would have guessed?

    The only problem is that there are ten times more humans alive today than wild fish populations can feed, even on an occasional basis. Fish farming and factory farms are a symptom of human overpopulation.
  54. Ruth Salmon from Ottawa, Canada writes: Here are some key facts about seafood and our diets:

    According to Canada's Food Guide, we need to be eating more fish, not less. Sensational titles comparing tilapia to donuts won’t help.

    Both the American Heart Association and American Dietetic Association confirm omega-6 fatty acids are heart-healthy nutrients that form part of a normal, healthy diet.

    Without aquaculture, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations predicts a worldwide fish and seafood shortage between 50 and 80 million tones.

    Ruth Salmon
    Executive Director
    Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance
  55. stand up mimi from Canada writes: Ruth Salmon from Ottawa, Canada writes: "Both the American Heart Association and American Dietetic Association confirm omega-6 fatty acids are heart-healthy nutrients that form part of a normal, healthy diet."

    The trouble is that there is some evidence that the ratio of Omega-3 to Omega-6 is what is important in heart health. Most people's diets are already heavy in Omega-6s (found in vegetable oils and grains), giving them an unhealthy ratio to Omega-3s. Fish farms are great in theory, but we get enough grain in our diet already, thanks to all the processed foods out there and grain-fed, factory farmed meat. I don't want to eat grain-eating fish, too.
  56. D Mores from GTA, Canada writes: I blame this on Michael Ignatieff.
  57. My eyes are open, Are yours? from Canada writes: So, eat a tilapia fillet, and take a supplement.

    Tilapia is a successfully farmed fish because it can survive in polluted waters, especially in near-shore farms where agricultural runoff makes it impossible to farm other species.

    Knowing that, I still eat it. Somehow a donut doesn't go so well with wild rice pilaf and steamed green beans with garlic.

    It's unconscionable to eat wild-caught fish in this day and age; even if the target species is not threatened, the by-catch is horrible, and the deep-sea trawlers are ruining the reefs.

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