"David Suzuki’s recent public remark calling farmed salmon a “poison” flies in the face of scientific evidence and is further proof that he and his organization, the David Suzuki Foundation, have abandoned scientific fact for hysterical fiction", a press release from Canada-based Positive Aquaculture Awareness says.
“This latest comment from David Suzuki goes straight to the issue of credibility. He’s supposed to be a scientist, but his remark, quoted in the Toronto Star, could not have been less scientific – and it’s slanderous.” said Laurie Jensen, president of grassroots Positive Aquaculture Awareness.
“No less than the National Cancer Institute, the National Academy of Sciences, the American Council on Science and Health, the American Heart Association, the World Health Organization, the National Fisheries Institute, Health Canada and the US Food and Drug Administration have all declared farmed salmon to be a healthy, nutritious food,“ said Jensen.
“Mr. Suzuki’s slanderous remark is an insult to these prestigious scientific and regulatory institutions, not to mention the thousands of community and First Nations members who proudly work in the salmon farming industry,” said Jensen.
“Mr. Suzuki may be endangering the health of Canadians with this irresponsible and baseless comment,” said Jensen. “He’s attacking the only food that provides consumers with a fresh, affordable source of Omega-3 fatty acids year-round,”
Numerous scientific studies have shown that Omega-3 fatty acids, which are found in salmon, can help prevent heart disease and alzheimer’s. According to the United Nations’ Food and Agricultural Organization wild fisheries alone will not be able to sustainably meet the increasing demand for affordable, year-round supplies of fish such as salmon.
“Mr. Suzuki needs to make an immediate public apology and retract his remark calling farmed salmon a ‘poison,’” said Jensen. “Anything less is unacceptable, and could negatively impact the health of Canadians,” she said.
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