Take a look at this week's can't-miss SeafoodSource news stories and commentaries:
• SeafoodSource Contributing Editor Mike Urch took an in-depth look at the unscrupulous practice of selling water as seafood in his commentary "Will the cheating ever stop?" The practice isn't new and certainly isn't limited to the United States. Urch explained that cheaters in the United Kingdom are always finding new ways to get ahead, as the use of a non-phosphate additive that binds in water but is virtually untraceable is becoming more common. However, it's not all bad news — the use of polyphosphates to bind in water to pangasius fillets in Vietnam will be stopped, if the legislation is passed limiting the water content (including glaze) in exported product to 83 percent.
• If you still doubt that seafood sustainability isn't catching on with consumers, you'd be wise to check out SeafoodSource Contributing Editor Nicki Holmyard's commentary "Pampered pets enjoy sustainable seafood." Mars Petcare is targeting eco-conscious pet owners by developing a sustainable seafood sourcing policy in conjunction with the World Wildlife Fund. The company has pledged by 2020 to phase out the use of wild whole fish and fish fillets and replace them with sustainable fish byproducts and farmed seafood. It has also set an end-of-year deadline for introducing Marine Stewardship Council eco-labeled pet food across Europe.
• Speaking of sustainable seafood, Walmart Canada is following in the footsteps of its U.S. counterpart by pledged to sell only sustainable seafood by 2013. The retail giant will source wild fish only from fisheries certified under the Marine Stewardship Council program, ensure its farmed-seafood suppliers adhere to the Global Aquaculture Alliance's Best Aquaculture Practices, and buy tuna only from International Seafood Sustainability Foundation members.
• For Guyader Gastronomie, product innovation is key to growth. The French company is constantly launching new seafood products and working with chefs to capture the latest culinary trends — two of its products are finalists in the retail category of the Seafood Prix d'Elite new products competition at this month's European Seafood Exposition. SeafoodSource Contributing Editor Lindsey Partos talked to Guyader's Isabel Sechet about the importance of product innovation.
• There's a new NGO in town. But this one, Positive Aquaculture Awareness, is out to counter the misinformation its says British Columbia salmon farming critics are spreading. This week the NGO launched a Web site designed to provide key facts about salmon aquaculture.
April 15, 2010
