The new USDA dietary guidelines that call for an increase in seafood consumption provide "great opportunities and challenges" for the seafood industry, the head of one of the largest privately owned seafood companies in the U.S. said today.
"The new federal guidelines will increase demand for seafood as the report points out in no uncertain terms the nutritional and health benefits of consuming more fish as part of a regular diet," said Kim Gorton, CEO of Slade Gorton & Co.
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010 released this week recommended that consumers eat at least two servings of seafood each week and that women who are pregnant or breastfeed eat 8 to 12 ounces of seafood per week.
"Our immediate challenge is to actively reinforce the important and positive messages in the guidelines through a communications campaign targeted to consumers using medical professionals, nutritionists, and top chefs, and food writers," Gorton said.
She said the industry also needs to "meet the growing demand for seafood by supporting innovation and aquaculture, developing new, affordable and sustainable products, and providing the highest quality seafood."
Gorton said her ultimate goals are to do "whatever is necessary to make sure that eating seafood at home is a positive dining experience and that families understand the nutritional and health benefits seafood provides."
She said Slade Gorton & Co. is making "significant investments" in product and packaging innovation, environmentally friendly distribution systems, supporting seafood sustainability, and leveraging new technologies to improve quality and food safety in an effort to meet consumer needs.
The company, founded in 1928, sold more than 100 million pounds of seafood last year and serves many of the nation's largest retailers, club stores, broad line distributors and wholesalers with fresh, frozen and value added seafood products.
Source: Slade Gorton & Co.