Where does the concentration of astaxanthin, which colors salmon pink, mainly originate in wild fish?
Answer
They consume large amounts of krill and shrimp, which are naturally rich sources of the pigment.
Astaxanthin is the carotenoid pigment responsible for the distinct pink or red hue seen in salmon flesh. In wild populations, this pigment is acquired directly through their natural diet, specifically by eating large quantities of krill and shrimp that naturally contain high levels of astaxanthin. In contrast, farmed salmon often lack sufficient natural sources in their feed, necessitating the artificial supplementation of this color into their feed to achieve the expected market appearance, illustrating the difference between natural foraging and manufactured diets.
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