Dive Brief:
- Whole Foods Market announced Tuesday its new Seafood Code of Conduct, which applies to all of the fresh, frozen and canned seafood products, including sushi, that it sells.
- The new policy aims to strengthen labor protections for fishers and vessel crews as well as set clear ethical standards across the seafood supply chain.
- Numerous grocers have updated their seafood supplier standards in recent years and it’s something Whole Foods has addressed on numerous occasions.
Dive Insight:
Whole Foods’ revamped code of conduct for its seafood products draws from globally recognized principles and covers the entire seafood supply chain — “from vessel owners to processors and distributors,” according to the press release. The new policy also builds on the grocer’s broader Supplier Code of Conduct.
Key provisions in the updated Seafood Code of Conduct include:
- Setting maximum working hours and time at sea. All fishing vessels must visit port every 11 months.
- Prohibiting recruitment fees and mandating “clear, fair employment contracts.”
- Mandating communication access for crew members while at sea, including contact with family, NGOs and worker representatives as well as prioritizing Wi-Fi installment on vessels.
- Requiring vessels to have safety training, medical care, personal protective equipment and sufficient food and water supplies.
This is the latest effort from the specialty grocer to burnish its reputation as an industry leader in setting ethical practices and standards.
The grocer noted that it recently worked with Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch to urge the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission to adopt stronger labor protections. In 2022, the grocer paused purchasing Maine lobster when the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch program and the Marine Stewardship Council changed their ratings for Maine lobster.
Other food retailers have also introduced seafood supplier standards in an effort to improve working conditions and sustainability practices. Last March, Hannaford announced that the Thai Union Group launched The Shrimp Decarbonization initiative, which Ahold Delhaize USA and The Nature Conservancy helped develop. This program aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions within the shrimp supply chain.
Walmart and Sam’s Club announced in 2023 an enhanced seafood policy aimed at improving transparency and data collection in the tuna supply chain.
