Native European oysters that have been certified as sustainable by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) are now being sold on fresh fish counters at branches of Whole Foods Market, making it the first grocery store in the United Kingdom to sell oysters with the MSC eco-label.
Whole Foods’ native oysters, which are sourced from Dutch waters, are being supplied by London-based seafood supplier Southbank Fresh Fish.
Unlike rock oysters, which are available year-round, native oysters are typically only available in months with an “r” in them (September to April).
“The last few years have been busy for the Seafood Quality Standards team at Whole Foods Market. We implemented new aquaculture standards for farmed finfish and shrimp, and we launched our wild species ranking program. We are delighted to now be able to offer MSC certified oysters in our fresh fish cases – they are proving popular with customers,” said James Morrissey, fishmonger for Whole Foods Market Kensington.
