The Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee encourages women who are pregnant, may become pregnant or are breastfeeding to eat at least 8 to 12 ounces, or two to three servings of fish each week. The advice, expected to be adopted and included in the 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, comes at a time when seafood consumption is reportedly at an all-time low among moms and moms-to-be.
In an effort to turn the tide on this development, San Diego, California-based Bumble Bee Seafoods is partnering with nutrition consultants Stephanie Clarke and Willow Jarosh of C&J Nutrition to spread the word about the new recommendations and educate consumers on the research behind it.
“There has been so much confusion about seafood over the last ten, years but we’ve seen an enormous amount of research showing the importance of fish in the diet, especially for new and expectant mothers,” said Dave Melbourne, the company’s senior vice president for consumer marketing and corporate social responsibility. “We’re thrilled to be starting these conversations with women to help them feel informed and confident about including more seafood in the meals they’re eating and serving their families.”
FDA research shows that, for pregnant and nursing women, eating fish regularly helps with the growth and development of children’s brains, even boosting IQ. Additionally, fish and shellfish are low in calories and generally low in saturated fat, which is an important source of protein, a predominant dietary source of omega-3 fatty acids, and loaded with vitamins and minerals.
“Seafood consumption is at an all-time low and, as a dietitian and new mother, I understand the responsibility parents have to provide their children with the best nutrition for healthy growth and development,” said Clarke. “We are so excited to partner with Bumble Bee to help teach parents about the benefits of seafood and provide simple, delicious ways to incorporate a variety of fish into families’ diets.”
According to 2014 FDA research, women can safely consume up to 67 ounces – 33 servings – of albacore each week. And, while fish can be intimidating to prepare for some, canned seafood is immediately ready to be added to any meal. Bumble Bee’s offerings range from a full line of tuna, salmon, sardine and specialty protein products marketed in the US under brands including Bumble Bee, Brunswick, Snow’s, Wild Selections and Beach Cliff, and in Canada under the Clover Leaf label.
The company also produces frozen seafood under the Bumble Bee SuperFresh label. It recently introduced SuperFresh Albacore Tuna Steaks, made from premium grade albacore. Within hours of being harvested, the fish is frozen at ultra-low temperatures using a special Japanese technique to lock in maximum quality. No preservatives or additives are used, and the tuna is wild-caught in sustainable fisheries.
Thai Union Frozen Products Public Company Limited (TUF), the world’s largest producer of shelf-stable tuna products and a major supplier of frozen shrimp, announced late last year that it has entered into a binding agreement to acquire 100% of the shares of Bumble Bee Seafoods from Lion Capital, a private equity firm, for US $1.51 billion.
