The Norwegian Seafood Export Council (NSEC) is misleading U.S. consumers with the false impression that Norwegian salmon is wild, not farmed. Food & Water Watch, along with other consumer groups, have long been advocating for the consumption of wild salmon due to the health risks farmed salmon can pose for humans and the environmental dangers that it poses for ocean ecosystems. NSEC’s misleading advertising interferes with consumers who try to make informed choices about the fish they are purchasing and consuming.
Rick Moonen, a Las Vegas chef, restaurant owner, and early champion for sustainable fishing practices, is now an exclusive supporter of wild salmon. Moonen initially endorsed Norwegian farmed salmon years ago, but has since learned the harm caused by the open net technology used in Norway and other places. As a result, Moonen requested that the company remove his likeness from a promotional video on NSEC’s Web site.
On January 28, Moonen filed an official complaint with the Federal Trade Commission’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, asking them to take the appropriate measures to ensure that Norwegian farmed salmon is not deceptively advertised in the U.S. NSEC’s misleading advertisements have appeared on their Web site as well as in print, in Cooking Light magazine.
On February 1, Moonen received a letter from NSEC apologizing for the error, claiming that the inclusion of his image in the videos "was an oversight on our part." Perhaps, the indication that they distribute wild Norwegian salmon is an oversight, as well.
Their response is particularly relevant in light of Target’s recent announcement that farmed salmon will be eliminated from their more than 1,700 stores and only wild salmon will be sold. This decision to carry more sustainable products demonstrates how empowered consumers are to select healthier, more sustainable seafood – even when buying from a mega-store like Target.
Based on the issues you typically cover, I thought you might be interested in learning more about this issue and how Food & Water Watch is helping to bring it into the public eye. Consumers deserve accurate information about the fish they consume and its impact on their health and the environment. Food & Water Watch Fish Team Director Marianne Cufone is available to provide you with more details at 202-683-2511 or at Mcufone@fwwatch.org. For more information about Food & Water Watch, please feel free to contact me at 202-683-2457 or at RBindell@fwwatch.org.You can also visit our website at www.foodandwaterwatch.org.
Food & Water Watch is a non-profit organization working with grassroots organizations around the world to create an economically and environmentally viable future. Through research, public and policymaker education, media, and lobbying, we advocate policies that guarantee safe, wholesome food produced in a humane and sustainable manner and public, rather than private, control of water resources including oceans, rivers, and groundwater. The Food & Water Watch Fish Program promotes safer and more sustainable seafood for consumers, while helping to protect the environment and support the long term well being of coastal and fishing communities. For more information, visit www.foodandwaterwatch.org.
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