Danish Authorities Again Take Action Against Polar Salmon Hjerting Laks
In a concerning development, the Polar Salmon Hjerting Laks fish factory in Esbjerg finds itself under police scrutiny for the third time this year. The Danish Veterinary and Food Administration (DVFA) has reported the company following an inspection that flagged several critical issues.
Among the points of contention outlined in the agency’s report, one of the most significant is the practice of adding brine and water to luxury fish products without proper disclosure. Alarmingly, some items reportedly contain up to 7.5 percent added salting, which may translate to more than five percent water in the final product—yet this is not indicated on the packaging. As a result, the representation of fish content may be misleading, since brine is counted in this percentage.
In addition to the police report, DVFA has imposed a fine of 30,000 kroner on the company. In defense, Polar Salmon Hjerting Laks asserts that the addition of brine is intended to enhance product moisture, preventing excessive dryness. The factory’s director, Jesper Kelly Innes, communicated that they have already made strides to alter labeling practices since the summer, acknowledging that the intention was never to mislead consumers.
“We were aware of these issues and initiated corrections months ago,” he explained in a written response to FødæreWatch. He emphasized that any water added evaporates during processes like drying and smoking, which led them to believe their previous labeling was sufficiently accurate.
This isn’t the first time Polar Salmon Hjerting Laks has attracted negative attention. Earlier this year, the firm faced investigation after selling salmon contaminated with listeria—a bacteria that can pose severe health risks, particularly for pregnant women, the elderly, and individuals with weakened immune systems. In fact, listeria exposure can lead to symptoms such as fever, diarrhea, and vomiting, and it can be present in a variety of foods, including meats, unpasteurized dairy, and processed fish products.
The DVFA’s former investigations discovered that the company had sold listeria-infected salmon without alerting appropriate authorities. During a series of tests conducted between 2023 and 2024, nine samples returned positive for listeria, leading officials to conclude that the company “had access and knowledge” of these results but “failed to act.” Polar Salmon Hjerting Laks later contended that the issues had arisen under past personnel.
A mere two months later, the firm was implicated once again when it failed to notify the DVFA about the withdrawal of listeria-contaminated fish detected in November 2024. The Statens Serum Institut (SSI) subsequently revealed that salmon from the company was linked to 27 cases of invasive listeria illness, with all affected individuals having required hospitalization. Disturbingly, reports indicate that four of these patients died within a month of their diagnosis.
As this situation continues to unfold, the scrutiny on Polar Salmon Hjerting Laks underscores the critical importance of transparency and accountability within the food production industry.