Ten Ways To Choose Sustainable Seafood

Wednesday, March 1, 2017

[NexcigNtortore Ten WaysTo ChooseSustainable Seafood (NAPS)—A seafood-rich diet offers major health benefits. Federal Dietary Guidelines recommend two to three servings of seafood a week but fewer than one in five Americans heed that suggestion. Between concern over mer- cury levels, environmental protection and the benefits of farmed vs. wildcaught fish, many consumersfind selecting seafood anything but simple. ‘The good newsis you can get seafood that’s safe, sustainable—and delicious. Follow these 10 tips to make informed choices. 1. Quality is key. Select fish that smells clean and briny, free of any fishy or sour odor. When choosing fillet, flesh should be bright and firm. That goesfor the outside, too—lookfor shiny skin and scales. 2. Frozen fish is cool. Go beyond your seafood counter—often, a grocery store's frozen case contains a wider selection of healthy and sustainably raised options. Modern flash-freezing techniques ensure frozen fish tastes just as goodasits fresh counterpart. 3. Check labels. Look for endorsements from reputable organizations such as Monterey Bay’s Seafood Watch, Ocean Wise, Marine Stewardship Coun- cil and Fair Trade Certified. These guarantee that the seafood has beenraised or caught sustainably with minimal environmental impact and using fair labor practices. 4. Avoid mercury.In this case, lower on the food chain is better. Salmon, cod and haddockare all FDA-approved selections low in mercury. 5. Fish should be additive free. Fish that is free of antibiotics, GMOs and added hormonesoffer a healthier option than conventionally raised seafood. 6. Choose responsibly farmed. Sus- tainable aquaculture reduces overfishing and the depletion of wild fish stocks and uses a fraction of the resources required to produce other animal proteins. Whenraised responsibly, farmed seafood is an environmentally friendly alternative to wild-caughtfish and other types of meat such as beef or chicken. Choose sustainably farmed It’s no fish tale: Eating seafood is good for you. fish approved by third-party regulatory organizations. 7. Omega-3s, please. One of sea- food’s most prized health benefits is its high omega-3 fatty acid content, an essential component of good health. Salmon, mackerel and sardines are among many options rich in heart- and brain-boosting omega-3s. 8. Value transparency. When buying seafood, traceability is crucial. Look for 100 percent traceable options to ensure fish is sourced from approved farmsandfisheries. 9. Go beyond fish. Fish is not the only seafood option. Shellfish such as mussels, oysters and clams can be farmed sustainably and offer the health benefits found in other seafood. 10. Say no to bycatch. Avoid unintentional harm of other animals by choosing fish that’s either farmed or caught with eco-friendly equipment. When choosing wild, look for fish that is pole-and-line or troll caught—that meansit wasfished oneat a time instead of in nets that indiscriminately trap other marinelife. Blue Circle Foods offers responsibly farmed andfished seafood you can trust. The company is at the forefront of sustainable seafood, and its products are 100 percenttraceable; free of GMOs, added hormones and antibiotics; and are sourced using fair labor practices. Plus, it partners with reputable third-party organizations to source products that are better for you and for the environment. Learn More For recipes, tips and to learn more about sustainable seafood, visit www. bluecirclefoods.com.

--- PHOTOS ---

File: 20190731-195312-20190731-195309-86082.pdf.jpg

--- FILES ---

File: 20190731-195309-86082.pdf