Are you a seafood lover who cares about where your fish comes from?
Do you want to know if the salmon in your Hello Fresh meal kit is wild caught or farmed?
Look no further, because we’ve done the research for you.
In this article, we’ll explore the sourcing practices of Hello Fresh and their seafood supplier, Hooked.
We’ll also delve into the benefits and drawbacks of wild caught versus farmed salmon.
So sit back, relax, and let’s dive into the world of sustainable seafood.
Is Hello Fresh Salmon Wild Caught?
The short answer is yes, the salmon in Hello Fresh meal kits is wild caught.
Hello Fresh sources their seafood from Hooked, a company that works directly with fish mongers to ensure transparency throughout the entire supply chain. Hooked manages their own freight and provides Hello Fresh with detailed “spec sheets” that identify things like species name, catch method, catch region, harvest date, and processing details.
All of the fish from Hooked is wild caught and therefore free of antibiotics. Traceability is a core value that drives how Hooked sources seafood for Hello Fresh recipes.
Hello Fresh also works with Hooked to make sustainable seafood choices when menu planning. For example, salmon is a favorite and most featured fish because where the salmon live and the method used to catch wild salmon minimizes the possibility of bycatch (other species caught unintentionally).
Introduction To Hello Fresh And Their Seafood Supplier, Hooked
Hello Fresh is a meal delivery service that delivers fresh ingredients in a refrigerated box right to your doorstep. They offer recycling options for their packaging and allow customers to create delicious, chef-designed recipes at home by following the steps on the recipe cards. Hello Fresh offers different plan options based on your needs and preferences, including specialized diet plans like gluten-free meals or vegetarian plans. They also allow customers to choose their delivery day and change their recipe meal options each week, constantly adding new weekly menu items, so you don’t get bored with the same old recipes.
Hello Fresh sources their seafood from Hooked, a company owned by Dan and Kristin Donovan, a dynamic husband and wife duo, each with a professional culinary background. Hooked works directly with fish mongers to ensure transparency throughout the entire supply chain by managing their own freight. They are focused on exceeding and innovating expectations when it comes to the “industry standard” and making seafood more approachable to home cooks. Hooked even hosts cooking classes in their Toronto fish shop locations.
Hooked provides Hello Fresh with detailed “spec sheets” that identify things like species name, catch method, catch region, harvest date, and processing details. This is incredibly important to Hello Fresh as they make sustainable seafood choices when menu planning. For example, salmon is a favorite and most featured fish because where the salmon live and the method used to catch wild salmon minimizes the possibility of bycatch (other species caught unintentionally).
Traceability is a core value that drives how Hooked sources seafood for Hello Fresh recipes. All of the fish from Hooked is wild caught and therefore free of antibiotics. In partnership with Hooked, Hello Fresh avoids the issue of incorrectly labeled seafood by replacing long supply chains with respectful, direct relationships. This constant diligence is for their customers who trust them with their seafood choices.
What Is Wild Caught Salmon?
Wild caught salmon refers to salmon that is caught in its natural environment, such as oceans, lakes, and rivers. Unlike farmed salmon, which are raised in controlled pens and fed a processed diet, wild caught salmon feed on a diverse range of organisms found in their environment. This natural diet results in a higher ratio of Omega-3 to Omega-6 fatty acids, which is healthier for human consumption.
Wild caught salmon also tends to have a more vibrant red-orange color and a distinctive savory and complex flavor. This is due to their varied diet and free-roaming lifestyle. In contrast, farmed salmon often have a grayish color and a milder flavor due to their limited diet.
Concerns over sustainability have been raised in regards to wild caught salmon due to overfishing. However, certain types of wild caught salmon, such as Sockeye, Coho, and King salmon from Alaska, are certified sustainable by the Marine Stewardship Council.
When purchasing wild caught salmon, it’s important to talk to your fish monger or read the label to ensure that it was caught sustainably and responsibly. Cooking wild caught salmon requires more care than farmed salmon as it tends to be leaner and can dry out if overcooked. However, with proper cooking techniques and sourcing methods, wild caught salmon can be a delicious and healthy addition to any meal.
What Is Farmed Salmon?
Farmed salmon is a type of fish that is raised in netted pens. The farming process involves breeding, raising, and slaughtering the fish, which are primarily Atlantic salmon, rainbow trout, chinook salmon, and coho salmon. Of these, 90 percent of farmed salmon around the world are Atlantic salmon. Farmed salmon are often the same species as wild-caught salmon, but they have a very different environmental impact.
The omega-3 fatty acids found in fish are derived from plants such as algae, leaves, and grass. In wild salmon, the type and amount of omega-3s present depend on the algae and plankton in their diet. In contrast, the omega-3 levels in farmed salmon are dependent on their feed, which is made from plants, grains, and fishmeal. Farmed salmon fillets contain as many grams of omega-3 fatty acids as wild salmon because farmed salmon are fattier than wild salmon. New feeds are being developed with less fishmeal and more protein derived from grains and oilseeds like soybeans. Fish oil is also being partially replaced with plant-derived oils. However, the more plant-based ingredients used in the feed, the lower the level of long-chain omega-3 fats in the salmon.
Farmed salmon are kept in netted pens where farmers control breeding, feeding, and provide medicine if needed. These pens can sometimes be very crowded, limiting the ability of the salmon to swim freely. Overfishing of wild fish stocks has led to an increase in fish farming as a way to keep prices lower. Wild salmon live and breed in their native bodies of water without human intervention.
While both farmed and wild-caught salmon contain high levels of heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids, there are important differences to consider when making your choice at the seafood counter. Farmed salmon is typically Atlantic salmon while wild-caught salmon is usually one of five types of Pacific salmon: chinook (king), sockeye, coho, pink and chum. Farmed salmon eat pellets made from fishmeal, vegetables, and animal byproducts while wild-caught salmon eat other organisms found in their natural environment. Additionally, farmed salmon may be treated with pesticides and antibiotics to control parasites and disease.
Despite being a popular food source for its high omega-3 content, farmed salmon has been criticized for its environmental impact and potential health risks associated with its farming practices. It is important to make informed choices about the type of seafood you consume and to consider factors like sustainability, traceability, and potential health risks when making your selection.
Sourcing Practices Of Hello Fresh And Hooked
Hello Fresh and Hooked have a strong commitment to sourcing sustainable and environmentally responsible seafood. Hello Fresh has partnered with Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch® to ensure that their high standards are met by suppliers. They recognize Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) certification in their supply chain and complete regular visits and audits. They are also in the process of moving all of their produce suppliers to be Global GAP certified or equivalent.
Hooked, on the other hand, works directly with fish mongers to ensure transparency throughout the entire supply chain. They manage their own freight and provide Hello Fresh with detailed “spec sheets” that identify things like species name, catch method, catch region, harvest date, and processing details. All of the fish from Hooked is wild caught and therefore free of antibiotics.
Additionally, Hooked is focused on exceeding and innovating expectations when it comes to the “industry standard”. Part of their mission is to make seafood more approachable to home cooks. They even host cooking classes in their Toronto fish shop locations.
Hello Fresh works with Hooked to make sustainable seafood choices when menu planning. Salmon is a favorite and most featured fish because where the salmon live and the method used to catch wild salmon minimizes the possibility of bycatch (other species caught unintentionally). Shrimp is farmed, but in a closed environment that allows farmers to monitor and control the troupe size and eliminate bycatch entirely.
Benefits And Drawbacks Of Wild Caught Salmon
Wild caught salmon is a popular choice for many people due to its nutritional benefits and superior taste. One of the main benefits of wild caught salmon is its higher omega-3 content compared to farmed salmon. Omega-3s are essential fatty acids that help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and promote healthy brain development in children.
Another advantage of wild caught salmon is that it contains lower levels of dioxins, a toxic chemical that can have neurotoxic effects. Wild caught Pacific salmon has been found to have the lowest levels of dioxins, making it a healthier choice compared to farmed salmon.
In terms of taste, wild caught salmon has a more potent, salmon-y flavor and lean texture compared to farmed salmon. This is because wild salmon has a more diverse diet than farm-raised alternatives, which gives them a better flavor. Additionally, the varied diets that wild-caught fish consume help improve their color, making for an impressive presentation when serving customers.
However, there are also some drawbacks to choosing wild caught salmon over farmed salmon. For one, it can be expensive and may not fit everyone’s budget. Additionally, cooking wild caught salmon can be tricky as it is best served medium to medium-rare, but can overcook quickly and become dry and rubbery.
Furthermore, some people may not enjoy the taste of wild caught salmon as it can have a stronger flavor compared to farmed salmon. It’s important to note that the nutritional benefits of wild caught salmon can vary based on their diet and environmental health.
Benefits And Drawbacks Of Farmed Salmon
While Hello Fresh sources wild-caught salmon for their meal kits, it’s worth noting the benefits and drawbacks of farmed salmon as well.
One of the benefits of farm-raised Atlantic salmon is that they typically have higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids due to their regulated diet. Their diets usually include plants, grains, and fishmeal, which results in more nutrients. Omega-3 fatty acids found in these salmon are good for the nervous system as well.
However, farm-raised salmon also have some drawbacks. One of the main concerns is the presence of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) found in these fish. These pollutants have been linked to type-2 diabetes, obesity, and an increased risk of stroke in women. One type of POP, polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB), is present in farm-raised salmon at levels five to 10 times higher than in wild-caught ones.
Another concern is the added red dye used to give farmed salmon a natural pink color. Wild-caught salmon get their pink or red flesh from their diet of krill and shrimp, while farm-raised salmon don’t have the same diet and therefore have greyer flesh. To achieve the natural pink look, farmers feed their salmon a synthetic chemical to “pigment” the flesh, which may have unhealthy long-term effects on the body.
Farmed salmon also tends to have higher levels of saturated fat due to their altered diet. Additionally, antibiotics are often given to farm-raised salmon to prevent infections, which can lead to antibiotic-resistant bacteria growing and infecting the body.
On the other hand, wild-caught salmon is often considered more nutritious and less toxic than farmed salmon. Wild salmon is leaner than farmed salmon, with more protein and fewer toxins. A study published in the journal Science warned that farmed salmon contains 10 times more toxins (dioxin, PCBs, etc.) than wild salmon. However, wild-caught salmon can be more expensive.
