The Food Standards Agency has been blasted by the seafood industry for failing to include shellfish in its latest consumption advice to consumers.
The agency reissued its advice last week following a consultation asking stakeholders for views on what should be included. It concluded it would not be advising people to eat shellfish as part of a recommended weekly fish intake.
"We are stunned that the FSA has failed to include shellfish in its 2-a-week advice," said Tom Pickerell, director of the Shellfish Association of Great Britain. The agency's advice was surprising considering it acknowledged shellfish to be low in fat and a good source of several minerals, he added. It had also highlighted that mussels, oysters, squid and crab were good sources of omega-3.
The FSA pointed out that although shellfish was not officially part of its 2-a-week advice, it was promoting the varieties as part of its Eat Well plate. It had also increased the information available on its website about the positive aspects of eating shellfish, said a spokesman.
Despite acknowledging the positive steps the FSA had taken on its website, industry body Seafish echoed SAGB's disappointment over its 2-a-week stance. "In our evidence during the new process we did seek to persuade the FSA to include shellfish," a spokesman said.
WWF had similarly pushed for shellfish to be included in the FSA's advice in its official response to the consultation. "There should be formal advice on the consumption of shellfish from the FSA," it said.
The news of shellfish's exclusion comes as one of Europe's biggest processors of prawns, Lyons Seafoods, relaunched its entire range with a new design, which it claims makes it "the best-looking seafood brand in supermarkets". "To ensure our packaging design is up to date and in line with our brand values, we've modernised our branding, putting greater emphasis on the link between Lyons and seafood," said marketing director Paul Vita.
The agency reissued its advice last week following a consultation asking stakeholders for views on what should be included. It concluded it would not be advising people to eat shellfish as part of a recommended weekly fish intake.
"We are stunned that the FSA has failed to include shellfish in its 2-a-week advice," said Tom Pickerell, director of the Shellfish Association of Great Britain. The agency's advice was surprising considering it acknowledged shellfish to be low in fat and a good source of several minerals, he added. It had also highlighted that mussels, oysters, squid and crab were good sources of omega-3.
The FSA pointed out that although shellfish was not officially part of its 2-a-week advice, it was promoting the varieties as part of its Eat Well plate. It had also increased the information available on its website about the positive aspects of eating shellfish, said a spokesman.
Despite acknowledging the positive steps the FSA had taken on its website, industry body Seafish echoed SAGB's disappointment over its 2-a-week stance. "In our evidence during the new process we did seek to persuade the FSA to include shellfish," a spokesman said.
WWF had similarly pushed for shellfish to be included in the FSA's advice in its official response to the consultation. "There should be formal advice on the consumption of shellfish from the FSA," it said.
The news of shellfish's exclusion comes as one of Europe's biggest processors of prawns, Lyons Seafoods, relaunched its entire range with a new design, which it claims makes it "the best-looking seafood brand in supermarkets". "To ensure our packaging design is up to date and in line with our brand values, we've modernised our branding, putting greater emphasis on the link between Lyons and seafood," said marketing director Paul Vita.
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