Five Reasons to Feature Soy-Fed Fish On Your Menu

As part of the organization’s efforts to increase use of U.S. soy in aquaculture, USSEC is distributing this press release to key international media.

Popular global cuisines with seafood-rich recipes, plus the growing world consumption of fish, have placed increased demands on our seafood supply. In fact, only half of the current global demand can be met by fish and seafood from the world’s oceans, with the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration crediting aquaculture as being the world’s fastest-growing form of food production.  In turn, the sustainability of global aquaculture relies on efficient, renewable sources of fish feed ingredients. That’s why soy-fed farmed fish meets today’s needs.

When you specify soy-fed farmed fish for your foodservice kitchen, you’re offering a nutritious, sustainable menu choice. Farmed fish have a hatch-to-harvest controlled diet, so aquaculture products are free of mercury content and other environmental contaminants such as PCBs. But that’s just one advantage offered by soy-fed farmed fish.

The U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) provides foodservice operators with health and nutrition information, the latest research, and other information related to soy-fed farmed fish. Meanwhile, here are five advantages that soy-fed farmed fish can bring to your menu.

1. Soy-Fed Farmed Fish Meet the Demand for High-Quality Ingredients. Demand for fish and seafood is expected to jump nearly 50 percent by the year 2050, thanks to more health-conscious consumers and a growing population. In fact, by 2030, an additional 41 million tons of fish per year will be needed to maintain current seafood consumption levels.  Your customers expect quality, and soy-fed farmed fish can help you meet those expectations.
2. Soy-Fed Farmed Fish Appeal to Health-Consciousness Consumers. As the numerous health benefits of incorporating fish into a regular diet become better known, consumers are driving up the demand for quality seafood. Today, farmed fish account for a significant portion of all fish consumed worldwide, and aquaculture continues to grow more environmentally friendly with the adoption of new industry standards.  Soy-based feeds are rich in proteins and nutrients, including Omega-3 fatty acids. In addition, soy eases the pressure on wild fisheries by replacing up to half the fishmeal in feeds for many marine farmed species, and all of the fishmeal in many freshwater species.