Costco's Farm Raised vs. Wild Salmon Sushi

Kellia

Sep 14

5 min read

Some people avoid farmed salmon because of concerns about farming conditions, while others prefer to avoid wild salmon because of its higher risk of parasites. There’s some truth behind both concerns, but when it comes to sushi, farm-raised salmon actually has several advantages, and Costco happens to be selling some.

Safety & Preparation:

Farmed salmon tends to be more consistent in terms of fat content, texture, availability, and price, which makes it especially well-suited for sushi. More importantly, the parasite risk is generally lower when salmon is raised under controlled aquaculture conditions and fed formulated feed. In fact, the FDA specifically exempts qualifying aquaculture salmon from the freezing requirement that applies to many types of fish served raw.

FDA Farm Raised Requirements to Serve Raw or Undercooked Fish Products — *FDA Farm Raised Requirements to Serve Raw or Undercooked* *Fish Products*

That doesn’t mean wild salmon can’t be eaten raw. It absolutely can, but it carries a greater parasite risk and therefore generally needs to undergo appropriate parasite-destruction treatment before being served raw, such as freezing at -4°F for 7 days, or -31°F for 1 day. Typical home freezers are set at 0°F; however, most standard freezers can go a few degrees lower—typically reaching around -5°F to -12°F at their maximum cold setting.

FDA Requirements to Serve Raw or Undercooked Fish Products — *FDA Requirements to Serve Raw or Undercooked* *Fish Products*

Of course, there are always risks associated with eating raw fish. I’ve personally purchased very expensive fish labeled as “sushi grade” that I ultimately couldn’t eat because of its extremely fishy smell and poor quality. Raw fish must be handled properly, kept at the appropriate temperature, and served fresh, regardless of whether it is labeled “sushi grade” or “sashimi grade.” Remember, not everything that is safe to eat raw is labeled “sushi grade,” and not everything labeled “sushi grade” is safe to eat raw. It’s also important to note that these terms are not standardized regulatory designations, and Costco does not have public information on how they handle their fresh farm-raised Atlantic salmon from harvest to store, nor do they have much publicly available information about their specific supplier.

With those limitations in mind, there is still valuable information available about Costco’s salmon. Costco’s farm-raised Atlantic salmon is fed controlled pellet feed and is raised without antibiotics, which are both reassuring factors when considering the product. Thousands of people have also reported eating Costco salmon raw for years. If you’re still concerned about eating Costco’s fresh farm-raised salmon—or if you prefer to use wild salmon for sushi—you can reduce parasite risk by setting your freezer to -4°F and freezing it for 7 days.

Open Water Fish Farming from Costco's 2025 Annual Sustainability Report

Costco Sourcing:

Costco's Atlantic farm-raised salmon is sourced from Norway, and the Norwegian government has played an important role in developing and regulating the country’s salmon-farming industry, with strict standards focused on fish welfare, environmental responsibility, and food safety. These regulations and practices have helped Norwegian salmon earn a strong reputation for quality and consistency in markets around the world. Beyond the salmon’s country of origin, Costco’s own sourcing practices provide another useful lens for understanding how its farm-raised salmon is produced.

According to Costco's 2025 Annual Sustainability Report, "Our goal is to source farmed salmon from farms and suppliers that have been certified to the ASC standard. This goal has been partially achieved, and we are supporting further transitions of more salmon farms to reach the ASC standard." Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) has strict standards addressing water quality, responsible sourcing of feed ingredients, disease prevention, animal welfare, etc. Though Costco does not mention whether their fresh Kirkland Norwegian farm-raised Atlantic salmon specifically meets this standard, I did find that their frozen Kirkland Norwegian farm-raised blackened Atlantic salmon is ASC certified.

So, is Costco’s farm-raised Atlantic salmon really safe to eat raw? There is evidence that farm-raised Atlantic salmon is suitable for raw consumption, particularly because controlled aquaculture conditions significantly reduce parasite risk. However, eating anything raw carries some inherent risk, and Costco does not provide much publicly available information to verify the specific farming, handling, and processing practices for its fresh salmon.

Personally, I, along with thousands of others, am comfortable taking that risk. In my own experience, the quality of Costco’s Atlantic salmon has been comparable to—and sometimes even better than—salmon that costs twice as much and is labeled “sushi grade.”

Health & Nutrition:

Wild salmon is generally lower in calories, total fat, and saturated fat than farmed salmon. However, farmed salmon contains more omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids because of its higher overall fat content. Omega-3s are essential fats that support heart and brain health and help regulate inflammation. Both can be a nutritious and healthy part of a balanced diet.

Cleveland Clinic Fish Faceoff: Wild vs Farmed Salmon

Environmental Impact:

When it comes to sustainability, neither wild-caught nor farmed salmon is inherently better. Wild fisheries can face challenges such as overfishing and ecosystem disruption, while aquaculture can contribute to pollution, spread of parasites like sea lice, diseases, and fish escapes. That said, well-managed wild Pacific salmon fisheries are generally considered a sustainable choice, but wild Atlantic salmon is endangered in many regions and should not be consumed. Farmed salmon varies widely depending on farming practices, but the industry has made strides through better feed, disease management, lower-impact farming systems, and certifications such as the ASC. Costco does specifically mention that they rely on the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification process to ensure they are sourcing from wild fisheries that are sustainably managed and aim to source their aquaculture fish from ASC certified farms.

These differences are also part of why perceptions of farmed salmon have changed over time. While some concerns remain valid, farming practices have evolved considerably.

Biases:

The idea that farmed salmon is inherently “dirty” or unhealthy is largely based on an outdated view of the industry. While overcrowding in fish farms still occurs today, salmon-farming practices have evolved significantly over the past few decades, with major improvements in fish nutrition, disease prevention, vaccination, parasite management, and overall farm management. In fact, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) notes that many of today’s aquaculture practices are significantly improved from those used in the industry’s early years. According to NOAA's FAQ on "Understanding Marine Aquaculture," "Over the past 30 years, we have learned how to manage aquaculture sustainably. The practices and technologies available today are significantly improved over what was available in the industry’s early years." Additionally, over the past two decades, the aquaculture industry has developed a range of strategies to better prevent and control bacterial diseases in farmed fish. These include vaccines, probiotics, improved nutrition, lower stocking densities, and the careful use of antibiotics when necessary. Today, antibiotics are considered a last resort, and their use in aquaculture has declined significantly in both the United States and around the world.

Conclusion:

Ultimately, when choosing fish for sushi, I think it’s more useful to look beyond the label. Consider where the fish comes from, how it was raised, its freshness, and quality. Farmed salmon isn’t automatically inferior, just as wild salmon isn’t automatically better. The details matter. “Farmed” tells you how the salmon was raised. It doesn't tell you how well it was raised.

If you’re interested in learning more about selecting, preparing, and cutting fish for sushi at home, I share practical tips and techniques on my TikTok: @kelliacooks.