As consumer scrutiny of food additives intensifies, industry experts are urging salmon farmers to reconsider their approach to carotenoids

The salmon farming industry may be heading toward a perception challenge it hasn't fully anticipated. As public attention on food dyes and artificial colorants continues to grow across the broader food sector, one industry consultant is sounding the alarm: the source of the pigments that give farmed salmon their signature color could soon become a consumer concern.

Dominique Corlay of Aquaculture Natural Solutions has spent years working with salmon farmers and aquafeed producers. Recently, he turned his attention to something often overlooked in production conversations—what consumers actually think about salmon coloration and where those pigments come from.

What Consumers Are Saying

Corlay's research into consumer behavior and attitudes revealed a clear pattern. When asked whether it mattered to them if the ingredients used in salmon feed were naturally derived or synthetic, the vast majority of respondents said yes—it was important to them to some degree.

This finding arrives at a particularly sensitive time. Food dyes and artificial colorants have faced increasing scrutiny from consumers, advocacy groups, and regulators alike. While salmon coloration hasn't yet become a flashpoint issue, Corlay believes the industry would be wise to get ahead of potential concerns rather than react to them after they emerge.

More Than Just Color

For those unfamiliar with salmon biology, the conversation about carotenoids might seem purely cosmetic. After all, that distinctive pink-red hue is one of the most recognizable features of salmon on any dinner plate or sushi platter.

But carotenoids serve a far more critical function than aesthetics. These compounds are essential nutrients that salmon cannot synthesize on their own—they must be obtained through diet. In wild salmon, this happens naturally through their consumption of krill, shrimp, and other crustaceans rich in astaxanthin, a naturally occurring carotenoid.

In farmed salmon operations, carotenoids are typically added to feed to ensure the fish receive adequate nutrition. Without sufficient carotenoid intake, salmon can experience significant health impacts. These nutrients play vital roles in:

• Metabolic function – Supporting the fish's ability to process and utilize energy
• Muscle development – Contributing to healthy tissue growth
• Immune response – Helping salmon fight off disease and infection
• Protective coating – Forming part of the protective layer on salmon eggs

The question Corlay raises isn't whether carotenoids should be in salmon feed—that's a biological necessity. The question is where those carotenoids come from.

The Natural vs. Synthetic Divide

Most commercial salmon operations use synthetic astaxanthin in their feed formulations. It's cost-effective and delivers the nutritional and visual results farmers need. However, naturally derived alternatives do exist, including astaxanthin sourced from algae and other natural sources.

Corlay's concern centers on consumer perception. As shoppers become more ingredient-conscious and seek out products they perceive as "natural" or minimally processed, the use of synthetic compounds in food production—even when those compounds are chemically identical to their natural counterparts—can become a liability.

The salmon industry has navigated consumer perception challenges before. Questions about sustainability, environmental impact, and comparisons to wild-caught fish have all required careful communication and, in many cases, operational changes. Coloration could be the next front in that ongoing effort.

A Proactive Approach

Corlay's message to the industry is straightforward: address this now, while it's still a matter of strategic planning rather than crisis management.

For salmon farmers and feed producers, this might mean evaluating natural carotenoid sources, even if they come at a higher cost. It could also mean investing in consumer education—helping people understand not just that color is added to farmed salmon feed, but why it's there and what role it plays in fish health.

Transparency has become a competitive advantage across the food industry. Companies that communicate openly about their practices often build stronger consumer trust than those that wait for questions to be asked.

Looking Ahead

The salmon farming industry has grown into a global enterprise worth billions of dollars annually. That success has come with increased visibility and, inevitably, increased scrutiny. Consumer expectations around food production continue to evolve, and the companies that anticipate those shifts tend to fare better than those caught off guard.

Whether natural carotenoid sources become an industry standard or remain a premium option, the conversation Corlay is encouraging seems inevitable. The only question is whether it happens on the industry's terms or someone else's.