Brief
Lerøy Seafood adds chicken by‑products to salmon feed for UK supermarkets
The Norwegian producer says poultry‑derived feed reduces its carbon footprint and meets welfare and safety requirements.
By Felo News Desk · Published
British shoppers may soon be eating salmon raised on chicken by‑products, as Lerøy Seafood Group, a major supplier to Tesco, has begun using poultry‑derived ingredients in its feed, the Independent reported on 19 October 2026.
What happened
Lerøy introduced poultry‑derived feed ingredients in response to limited marine raw materials and rising sustainability pressures. The company says the change has helped lower its carbon footprint. The feed uses parts of chickens that are not consumed by people, sourced from animals raised for human consumption.
What the reports add
The Independent notes that other Norwegian producers have also moved to poultry‑based feed: Grieg Seafood added chicken meal in July, and SalMar began testing it in March. Sophie Ryan, chief executive of the Global Salmon Initiative, is quoted as saying feed is one of the biggest sustainability challenges in salmon farming and that poultry by‑products can improve circularity.
What was said
Jørgen Skeide of Lerøy told the Independent, “The availability of marine raw materials is limited, and a broader range of feed ingredients will be needed if we are to continue producing seafood responsibly in the future. Introducing poultry‑derived ingredients is not necessarily about replacing marine ingredients on a one‑to‑one basis. Rather, it is about reducing our dependence on a limited range of raw materials.” He added that the practice meets requirements for fish welfare, food safety, product quality and environmental performance.
Sophie Ryan said, “Poultry meal and oil are made from the parts of chickens that people don’t eat. Typically, after processing, these parts are discarded to the landfill and wasted.” She acknowledged consumers might be surprised but argued the approach reduces environmental impact while maintaining nutritional value.
Heather Richie, a seafood retail and EU fisheries policy expert, argued that consumers should be able to decide for themselves whether they are comfortable with the practice and that supermarkets should make such information accessible.
Key facts
- Lerøy Seafood Group has started using poultry‑derived ingredients in salmon feed for UK supermarkets. (independent.co.uk)
- The company says the new feed reduces its carbon footprint. (independent.co.uk)
- Other Norwegian producers, Grieg Seafood and SalMar, have also introduced chicken‑based feed earlier in 2026. (independent.co.uk)
- Sophie Ryan of the Global Salmon Initiative says poultry by‑products improve circularity and sustainability. (independent.co.uk)
- Heather Richie calls for transparency so consumers can decide about the practice. (independent.co.uk)
Sources
- [1] independent.co.uk — originally reported as “Why you might not know if your salmon is being raised on chicken”
