A plan to impose maximum limits on the carotenoid canthaxanthin in salmon feed has recently been announced by the Japanese Ministry of Labour, Health and Welfare (MHLW), reports the news agency, MercoPress.

The decision to establish a maximum limit for this substance follows the release of a report from the Scientific Committee for Animal Nutrition (SCAN) of the European Union from studies undertaken during 2002. While compiling the report scientists revealed a link between high canthaxanthin intake and eyesight problems. Experts at the World Health Organization and the European Commission established an acceptable daily intake of 0.03 mg of canthaxanthin per kg of human body weight. The report therefore recommended lowering the level of canthaxanthin in salmon feed from 80 mg per kilogram to 25 mg per kilogram.