Farmed salmon consumption rises by 20% as Britain snubs junk science (and the BBC says it's OK too!)

UK consumers have delivered a decisive snub to US scientists who tried to deter them from eating Scottish farmed salmon. Latest research, released today, shows that farmed salmon consumption bounced rapidly back from January's scare, with more than 86.4 million salmon meals eaten in the UK between March and May this year. This is up from 72 million meals during the same period a year before - a rise of 20%.

The data, from 11,000 households surveyed by the Taylor Nelson Sofres Family Food Panel, shows that salmon consumption did indeed fall during the period of the so-called contamination scare, but only marginally (1.8% down during December - February 2004 vs the previous year).

"Despite a degree of media hysteria at the time, British shoppers have shown themselves to be pretty sensible in evaluating this food scare," commented Scottish Quality Salmon chief executive Brian Simpson. "They took the American study with the pinch of salt it deserved and relied on just about every other authority in the world to confirm that not only is Scottish farmed salmon safe to eat, it is both delicious and extremely good for you."

Meanwhile, the BBC tonight provides a further boost to consumer confidence in its programme "Should I Worry About..." (BBC1, 7pm Scotland only, England and Wales previously). Presenter Richard Hammond asks "Should I Worry About Farmed Salmon" and in the half-hour investigative programme comes up with a firm "No" as an answer.

The news on rising salmon consumption also coincides with two Scottish conferences on diet, behaviour and health. SQS scientific advisor Dr John Webster is speaking at both, to audiences of teachers, parents and healthcare professionals on the wide range of benefits from including omega-3 rich salmon in the diet.

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Notes to editors:

The Food & Behaviour Research Conference takes place in Nairn on 28th October, while Food Diet & Health 2004 is staged by the University of Glasgow on 29th October. Dr John Webster, speaking at both events, is available for comment on any aspect of salmon consumption and health.

To arrange an interview with Dr John Webster, please call Lesley Jenkins at Scottish Quality Salmon on 01738 587000.

For comment on Scottish salmon consumption data, please call Rob Metcalfe at Chrome Consulting on 020 7323 1610 / 07947 761942.

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