The Salmon Sacrifice: From Ancient Streams to Deep Sea Farms

The term "salmon" (a transliteration of "Saimon") originally referred specifically to Atlantic salmon introduced by Norway, but it has since expanded in the Chinese market to include various Pacific species and freshwater rainbow trout, sparking significant naming disputes. While industry associations have attempted to standardize rainbow trout as "domestic salmon," critics argue this misleads consumers about the fish's origin and potential health risks compared to traditional seawater varieties. Regarding safety, seawater salmon is generally deemed safe for raw consumption only after professional deep-freezing to kill parasites, whereas freshwater fish like rainbow trout pose a higher parasite risk and are safest when thoroughly cooked.