More from the Gold Seal people. Good news regarding their salmon; its taken
from the wild. (I think I will switch from tuna to salmon for my lunches.).

Marilyn

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From: Ralph Drew <[log in to unmask]>
To: "'Marilyn Harris'" <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: RE: GOLD SEAL Canned Salmon & Tuna --- Additional Questions
Date: Fri, 26 Apr 2002 14:32:13 -0700

Dear Ms. Harris,

This is in response to your email asking the following additional questions:

1. Wild Salmon or Farmed Salmon -

All GOLD SEAL brand canned salmon is 100% Wild Pacific Salmon. Canadian
Fishing Company (Gold Seal Seafoods) does NOT process farmed salmon, nor
does Canfisco own salmon farms.

2. Canned Tuna Ingredients -

In addition to containing a little salt (~1%) to accentuate the flavour,
canned tuna may be packed in water, broth or oil. The water is added water,
the broth contains vegetable ingredients, and the oil is also of vegetable
origin. Consumers also need to be aware that some canned tuna products may
also contain "Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein" (HVP) that is typically made
from Soya. As with any grocery product, consumers should consult the
ingredients listing on the label to confirm product ingredients.

3. Heavy Metals Such As Mercury -

 - Canned Tuna - One key issue regarding mercury levels in tuna is the
specie involved. The larger tuna species, such as Albacore, are often sold
fresh or frozen, and sometimes have mercury levels that exceed the 0.5 parts
per million (ppm) Canadian limit for mercury. Most of the canned tuna
products sold in Canada are "Light Meat" tunas, such as Skipjack and
Yellowfin, and are a smaller tuna species that have much lower mercury
levels, typically in the 0.2 to 0.3 ppm range. In addition, all canned tuna
products imported into Canada are monitored on a spot-check basis to ensure
compliance with the 0.5 ppm Canadian limit for mercury. Canned tuna imports
are also monitored by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) on a
spot-check basis for other heavy metals and contaminants, and CFIA have not
identified any issues or concerns.

 - Canned Salmon - Wild Pacific Salmon have very low levels of heavy metals,
pesticides including DDT, and PCBs. This is due to the short life-cycle of
salmon (2 to 4 years) which is insufficient to bio-accumulate these
substances. For example, mercury levels in salmon are typically less than
0.05 ppm which is ten-fold lower than the 0.5 ppm Canadian limit for
mercury. Similarly, DDT and PCB levels are typically not detectable in Wild
Pacific Salmon, and only infrequently detectable in the range of 0.002 to
0.008 ppm, i.e. a only few parts per billion (ppb).

In summary, GOLD SEAL canned salmon is one of the safest and healthiest
foods that you can eat, is an excellent source of protein, and has other
dietary attributes such as calcium and unsaturated fats that contain omega-3
fatty acids. GOLD SEAL canned tuna is also a safe and healthy food, and an
excellent source of low fat dietary protein.

I trust that the foregoing answers your additional questions.

Regards,
Ralph Drew

============================================
Ralph Drew, Director
Technical Services
Canadian Fishing Company
TEL: (604) 681-0211
FAX: (604) 681-3277
Email: [log in to unmask]
webpage:  www.canfisco.com
============================================