What are Struvite crystals?
On rare occasions, small crystals having all the appearances of pieces of broken glass may be found in canned salmon. These crystals are colorless, transparent and tasteless. They vary in size, sometimes being so small as to impart only a slight grittiness to the salmon and at other times being PI inch in length. These crystals have been identified as magnesium ammonium phosphate, which is the natural occurring mineral, Struvite. Although these crystals resemble pieces of broken glass, and are often mistaken for glass, they are harmless even if swallowed. The separate chemical substances capable of uniting to form crystals of magnesium ammonium phosphate are always present in the bodies of all animals, including human beings. It is only under certain conditions that these substances unit to form the crystals. Struvite crystals have been found to be sixty times more prevalent in wild Chinook King Salmon than in any other species. (References: Canning Memorandum; Continental Can Company,
