BioMar increases vitamin D3 levels in salmon feed following research findings.
Feed producer BioMar has more than doubled the vitamin D3 content across all its salmon diets, following internal trials that linked elevated supplementation to higher fillet vitamin levels without adverse effects on fish performance.
The move comes after the EU raised the maximum permitted vitamin D3 concentration in aquafeed for salmonids from 2,500 to 60,000 IU/kg in 2019. BioMar said its research confirmed that higher dietary inclusion led to a proportional increase in vitamin D3 in the fish fillet, with no measurable impact on growth, feed intake, or conversion rates.
“Vitamin D is crucial for fish health, supporting bone development, calcium regulation, and immune function,” said Pedro Gómez Requeni, Senior R&D Scientist at BioMar.
The new formulation will be implemented automatically across BioMar’s salmon feed lines. The company said the change will allow farmers to deliver fish with improved nutritional profiles, potentially creating new market opportunities as consumer focus on functional nutrition grows.
“Consumers are becoming more aware of the importance of vitamin D,” said Simon Wadsworth, BioMar’s R&D Director. “By enriching salmon fillets through feed, we are supporting both public health goals and product differentiation.”
BioMar described the move as a “practical formulation improvement” with implications for fish welfare, farm economics and end-consumer value.