The Tasmanian Salmonid Growers Association (TSGA) is calling on consumers to support manufacturers producing products locally in Australia following a string of recent health outbreaks resulting from imported food.
Last week, John Bull Tuna Chunky Style in Sunflower Oil was recalled by the NSW Food Authority after seven people suffered scombroid fish poisoning after eating the imported tuna from Thailand at Sydney cafe, Soul Origin, near Town Hall station. The recall came just weeks after a nationwide outbreak of Hepatitis A from frozen berries imported from China.
Adam Main, TSGA spokesperson, said consumers are now paying more attention to where their food is sourced.
“We produce some of the best salmon in the world right here in Australia. Not only does buying local support our economy, it also provides consumers confidence in knowing where the products they consume are grown and processed,” Main said.
Mark Ryan, MD and CEO of Tassal, the largest producer and processor of Atlantic Salmon products in Australia and the only brand supplying 100 per cent Australian grown and canned fish to major supermarkets across the country, said many consumers are unaware the canned fish products they buy are manufactured in foreign countries.
“We are proud to say Tassal canned salmon is made using Tasmanian grown Atlantic salmon and is canned in Australia,” Ryan said.
In November 2014, Tassal achieved a global first in responsible aquaculture with Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) accreditation across all its salmon farming operations.
“The ASC accreditation is the ‘gold standard’ for responsible salmon farming and provides credible, third party validation of how responsibly we farm our salmon,” said Ryan.
“We are the first salmon farming company in the world to achieve this certification putting us at the forefront of responsible global salmon aquaculture.
“Tassal will continue to be attentive to consumer priorities including having the information and assurance that Tassal Atlantic Salmon is grown locally in an environmentally and socially responsible way.”
