Yes, Aldi salmon is actual salmon, but it is predominantly farm-raised Atlantic salmon rather than wild-caught. While it is real fish, most fresh fillets are sourced from industrial, intensive aquaculture operations in Chile or Norway, and sometimes contain additives for color enhancement.
Our Specially Selected Scottish salmon is farmed to higher welfare standards and certified by RSPCA Assured. We work with our suppliers and with certification boards to ensure minimum standards for fish welfare are met in our products.
The total number of companies committed to not sell genetically engineered salmon now stands at more than 60 retailers, including Target, Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, Aldi, H-E-B, Meijer, Hy-Vee, Marsh, Giant Eagle, and now Safeway and Kroger, representing more than 9,000 grocery stores across the country.
You should generally avoid farmed Atlantic salmon from open-net pens, especially from places like Canada, Chile, Norway, and Scotland, due to environmental issues, parasites, antibiotics, and higher contaminants (PCBs) from their feed. Opt instead for sustainably caught wild salmon (like Pacific varieties) or farmed salmon in closed containment systems, looking for certifications like Seafood Watch and ASC-certified.
The frozen salmon that they sell is wild caught and the 'fresh' salmon that they sell in the refridgerators is farm raised. Farm raised salmon have larger, more uniform white stripes of fat. It typically looks prettier and a lot o people prefer the taste.
The complaint alleges that Aldi, one of the country's largest food retailers, sources its salmon from industrial fish farms in Chile that use unsustainable and environmentally destructive practices, including the use of toxic chemicals.
Taste & Texture: Farmed salmon is buttery and tender. Wild salmon has a firmer texture and a bolder, richer flavor. Sustainability: Farmed salmon helps reduce pressure on wild populations. Wild salmon is sustainable when sourced from well-managed fisheries.
Around 1995, people in Japan began to eat salmon as well. Salmon from the Pacific was considered unsanitary, so the fish, which was often infested with parasites, was not only examined in detail but also grilled as a precaution.
The unhealthiest fish to eat are typically large, predatory species high in mercury like Shark, Swordfish, King Mackerel, Tilefish (from the Gulf of Mexico), and Marlin, which are harmful to developing brains and nervous systems, especially for pregnant women, children, and the elderly, while others like Farmed Tilapia or imported Catfish raise concerns about contaminants and antibiotics, and some popular options like certain Tuna and Chilean Sea Bass also have high mercury or sustainability issues.
Aldi salmon quality is mixed but generally considered good for the price, with many shoppers loving the fresh Atlantic and Coho options for their value and taste, especially pre-seasoned varieties, while frozen varieties receive more varied reviews, with some finding them mushy or off-tasting but others enjoying them for quick meals. The best choice often depends on the specific product, with fresh generally preferred over frozen for texture, though wild-caught frozen can be a cleaner, flavorful choice.
If you're looking to avoid genetically-engineered foods or ingredients, we offer a variety of items. Just look for our products, like our Simply Nature line, that bear the USDA Organic or Non-GMO Project Verified Seals. Added MSG is an artificial flavor enhancer commonly found in savory foods.
Our approach is based on sourcing our fish and shellfish products from responsibly managed fisheries and farms that have minimal impacts on the wider marine environment and are committed to human rights and fair labor practices throughout the supply chain.
This time, it's Aldi's Atlantic Salmon Portions with Seafood Stuffing, subject to a voluntary recall by manufacturer Santa Monica Seafood on May 24, 2025. But this isn't a story of contamination–it's a clear case of a labeling failure that reveals a deeper flaw in our food safety system.
For non-farmed fish in the UK, look for wild-caught options like mackerel, sardines, herring, hake, coley, and sustainable cod or haddock, often certified by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), with suppliers like Leap Wild Fish, Eversfield Organic, and The Fish Society offering choices like wild salmon, Dover sole, and shellfish, ensuring healthier choices with less fat and contaminants than many farmed varieties.
The controversy about eating farmed verses wild salmon is complex, and reports available in the media, online, and in scientific publications often seem contradictory. Issues fall into three main categories: environmental concerns, contamination, and omega-3 fatty acid levels in edible portions.
European consumers mostly evaluate the appearance, price, and origin when purchasing fish products, including both capture fisheries and aquaculture; meanwhile, bad taste, smell, appearance, and high prices are the most important reasons for seldom or never eating fish products (Eurobarometer, 2021).
How do Japanese people not get sick from raw fish?
The fish-killing method also helps preserve the freshness and safety of the fish. When they are frozen with extreme temperatures up to -40°C, it causes their pathogenic cells (which makes it rot/goes bad) to explode and die. Aside from fish, Japanese people love eating raw eggs.
Find out if the salmon is wild-caught or farmed. If in doubt, it's probably farmed Atlantic salmon. Buy U.S. wild-caught salmon—only a tiny amount is red-rated (scroll down for more information). Buy wild-caught salmon from Canada, except Chinook or coho salmons caught on British Columbia, Canada's South Coast.
Aldi salmon quality is mixed but generally considered good for the price, with many shoppers loving the fresh Atlantic and Coho options for their value and taste, especially pre-seasoned varieties, while frozen varieties receive more varied reviews, with some finding them mushy or off-tasting but others enjoying them for quick meals. The best choice often depends on the specific product, with fresh generally preferred over frozen for texture, though wild-caught frozen can be a cleaner, flavorful choice.
The company sells value-pack packages of frozen wild-caught pink salmon filets (which make delicious baked salmon with burst tomatoes) along with cans of wild Alaskan pink salmon (which is one canned meat you should be eating). However, much of the chain's fresh salmon is farm-raised.
