Waitrose organic salmon supplier investigated over chemicals in loch

An organic salmon supplier to Waitrose and M&S is under investigation after complaints alleging it used formaldehyde at a remote Scottish loch to support its breeding programme. SEPA, the Scottish Environment and Protection Agency, said it “acted immediately” and opened an inquiry after receiving a report from the Green Britain Foundation, which claimed the chemical was used at Cooke Aquaculture’s Garasdale site in Kintyre, Argyll. GBF investigators visited in August 2022 and reportedly found a skip full of empty formalin containers, with further evidence cited for 2024. Scotland’s Fish Health Inspectorate recorded formalin use on at least three occasions, including to control fungal infections or post-vaccination. The article notes that formalin is classified as a known human carcinogen and that organic certification rules require limiting chemical use and reporting medicines every three months. A SEPA records check cited by GBF reportedly found no prior formaldehyde record for Garasdale.