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| Tuesday, June 08, 2010 |
| Safe Seafood |
I still can’t seem to wrap my head around the whole oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico. Every time I see images of oil soaked birds or real time clips of the gushing well my heart breaks a little more. While it’s painfully obvious that we have to avoid any seafood coming from that area (and probably will for a very long time to come), this environmental catastrophe has me thinking a lot about the safety of our seafood and oceans in general.
How can we know if the seafood we buy at the store or order at a restaurant is really safe? A lot of people start by looking for organic labels to help them make better decisions. But after a little investigating, I discovered that the term “organic” doesn’t necessarily apply to the seafood we eat because the government doesn’t really have specific organic standards when it comes to seafood. What’s a conscientious consumer to do?
Food & Water Watch, a non-profit national consumer advocacy organization who fights corporate control of agriculture and water utilities through policy, education, and outreach, suggests asking the following questions:
- Where is it from?
- They suggest choosing domestic over imported whenever possible.
- Is it caught or farmed locally?
- Opt for seafood that is caught or farmed locally instead of seafood that is shipped from far away.
- Is it farmed or wild?
- Try to choose wild caught whenever possible, unless otherwise specified.
- How is it caught?
- You want to avoid methods that have high bycatch (when fish or other marine life are unintentionally caught in the process) or promote habitat damage. Favor fish caught by hook and line, handline, troll, jig and speargun.
- How is it farmed?
- Choose seafood that has been farmed in the U.S., particularly in low or no-output re-circulating systems. Tilapia and shrimp are examples of species that are soon going to be farmed this way in the U.S.
- Is it associated with any contaminants?
- Is the seafood associated with things like mercury or antibiotics?
They also suggest eating a variety of seafood to reduce exposure to possible contaminants and decrease pressure on wild caught fish that have become popular choices.
Be sure to check out their Smart Seafood Guide. It gives you reminders on the important questions to ask, a “Dirty Dozen” list which includes their top choices of seafood to avoid, and gives some great recommendations for substitutions. You can print it out and keep it in your purse or wallet for quick reference.
You can also check Seafood Watch for more great information on sustainable seafood including recipes, printable pocket guides and more!
If you love seafood like me, use this information to stay informed and to make healthy choices for you and for the planet. Making smart decisions about seafood is more important now than ever!
- Lauren
If you like this article, you might also enjoy…
Sensei Talks: Seafood Saviors
Sensei Talks: Plastic Ocean
Labels: healthy eating, Healthy Planet, Lauren
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posted by My Sensei @ Tuesday, June 08, 2010   |
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| 3 Comments: |
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The whole oil disaster is almost more than can be imagined, and it has really just started. We all have a responsibility because we all use oil products and have not followed up on decreasing our dependency. Perhaps this will motivate change, but I doubt it.
As for seafood, I do the best I can with variety and avoiding certain types. I suppose the best advice I can offer is to keep yourself as fit as possible, and hope that a healthy oven can withstand the toxins.
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I know :( I told a friend yesterday that there are no words to even describe the sadness of the situation. We all live here in Florida and wake up every morning bracing for the bad news. But you are absolutely right about everyone taking responsibility for our use of oil products.
Even the most informed person can't avoid toxins. That's why it's so important to stay fit like you said and balance that with other healthy habits like eating tons of colorful locally grown produce, drinking plenty of water and getting enough sleep.
Thanks for the comment!
- Lauren
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The BP oil disaster is horrible! The pics we see on TV, devastating! Thx for this post!
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The whole oil disaster is almost more than can be imagined, and it has really just started. We all have a responsibility because we all use oil products and have not followed up on decreasing our dependency. Perhaps this will motivate change, but I doubt it.
As for seafood, I do the best I can with variety and avoiding certain types. I suppose the best advice I can offer is to keep yourself as fit as possible, and hope that a healthy oven can withstand the toxins.