This Sustainable Seafood September, Aldi has partnered with the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) to help shoppers enjoy seafood while also remaining conscious of the environment.
Liz Fox, Corporate Responsibility Director for Aldi UK, and experts from the MSC have curated tips to help shoppers do just that.
From trying alternative species and products, to myth busting the frozen versus fresh debate, here are several ways to buy sustainable seafood.
Something blue
It seems an obvious place to start, but seafood products that display the blue Marine Stewardship Council, or MSC, ecolabel have been certified against the highest sustainability standards.
It is a label present throughout the aisles of Aldi, and helped the supermarket sell the largest volume of certified sustainable seafood in UK supermarkets in 2022.
Founded in 1997, the MSC’s blue ecolabel scheme covers more than 1,500 products throughout the UK, with dozens of products on shelves in Aldi having the highest sustainability rating.
Get creative with cans
Canned fish is having a real moment in the spotlight.
Everyone from TikTok creators to serious foodies have been extolling the charms of this easy fish supper. If you know which cans to buy and what to do with them, you can create delicious, satisfying low-cost meals.
People are often surprised by how delicious canned fish can be, and at Aldi you can find a wide variety of products including canned salmon and tuna with the blue MSC ecolabel.
Don’t fear frozen
The frozen versus fresh debate is still a hot topic among seafood lovers. The rumour that fish loses its taste, freshness and nutrients when frozen isn’t true at all!
Eating frozen MSC certified fish is one of the best ways to eat seafood sustainably. It dramatically cuts household food waste and is a great way to bulk buy and maximise your mealtime ingredients – Aldi has hundreds of recipes to help shoppers create mouthwatering meals.
Most fish is frozen as soon as it is caught, quickly preserving all its flavour and nutritional goodness for you to enjoy once cooked and paired with whatever you are in the mood for.
Switch up your species
Are you crazy for cod or a stickler for salmon? In the UK, the most popular fish species among seafood eaters are known as the big five: cod, haddock, tuna, salmon and prawns.
While you can buy many of these species at a relatively good price, and with the blue MSC ecolabel, there are lots of other lesser-known alternatives that may be cheaper, just as sustainable and equally as tasty.
Pollock is a good example of a great whitefish alternative, which is in the same family as cod. It can be found in Aldi stores, with products including The Fishmonger Fish Fillet Burgers and The Fishmonger Breaded Fish Fillets.
Get shellfish savvy
Shellfish is simple to cook, can have a low ocean impact (if MSC certified), and can be found at affordable prices in many UK supermarkets, proving it’s not just reserved for fancy restaurants or seaside establishments.
Mussels, for example, are a brilliant sustainable choice. They have a lower carbon footprint compared with other protein sources because they need very little to thrive, feeding off organic particles found in the ocean. As filter feeders, mussels can also create a cleaner, healthier environment for other aquatic species.
If you want to bring the fresh taste of the ocean home, then look out for some of the best low-cost shellfish available with the blue MSC ecolabel including Scottish mussels from Aldi stores.
ALDI SHARES FOUR RECIPES FOR SUSTAINABLE SEAFOOD SEPTEMBER
To mark Sustainable Seafood September, Aldi has shared four tasty and healthy recipes to inspire Brits to add a range of sustainable seafood items to their mealtimes.
Each of the recipes use MSC certified seafood products - with easy to follow, step-by-step instructions available on the Aldi website.
When you choose to buy seafood with the MSC blue fish label on the packaging you are supporting independently certified sustainable fisheries. The label is assurance that products have been sustainably caught and can be traced back to the source.
Recipe #1
Grilled Salmon Skewers with Lime
– serves four
This succulent and lightly grilled salmon covered in a Mediterranean-style marinade is perfect for any final barbecues coming up before the colder weather greets us.
Pick up everything you need for just over £1.50 per person at Aldi, including the Boneless Wild Pink Salmon Fillets, with an estimated prep and cooking time of 35 minutes.
Recipe #2 Mediterranean Fish Bake
– serves four
Bring a taste of the Mediterranean to your dinner table with this hearty fish bake - a great choice for a healthy dinner party dish.
All the ingredients come in at just over £2 per serving, including Aldi’s Boneless Cod Fillets, with an estimated prep and cooking time of 30 minutes.
Recipe #3 – Dusted Sole Fillet
– serves four
Crispy and succulent sole fillet accompanied by a creamy potato and parsley mash – ideal for family dinners.
Pick up everything you need for just over £2 per serving at Aldi, including MSC The Tasty Catch Co. Lemon & Parsley Yellowfin Sole, with an estimated prep and cooking time of 55 minutes.
Recipe #4 – Thai Style King Prawn Oriental Stir Fry
– serves four
Feeling a takeaway but want to eat that little bit healthier? This popular and healthy prawn stir fry is the perfect compromise.
All the ingredients come in at under £1 per serving, including the MSC Coldwater Prawns, with an estimated prep and cooking time of 20 minutes.
