Gorton's Fresh Seafood has a long-standing commitment to seafood safety. In support of that standing, we offer the following guidelines in regard to seafood safety.

The FDA advisory acknowledges that seafood can be an important part of a balanced diet; however there are special considerations for certain individuals that should be noted.

For the general population, the Food and Drug Administration has determined that consumption advice is unnecessary for many of the other types of seafood Gorton's Fresh Seafood provides due to the extremely low levels of contaminates found in these species.

Seafood has been and continues to be a safe, wholesome and nutritious food product that can be a key part of a healthy diet. Experts advise eating seafood at least twice a week.

Methyl Mercury

Government and nutrition experts continue to recommend eating a balanced diet composed of a variety of foods including fish and other seafood. Seafood is a good source of high-quality protein, is typically low in fat and saturated fat and contains enough vitamins to make the regular seafood dinner well worth your while.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advises pregnant women, women of childbearing age who may become pregnant, nursing mothers and young children, not to eat shark, swordfish, king mackerel, and tilefish since these fish may contain high levels of methyl mercury. Methyl mercury may harm an unborn baby's developing nervous system.

For pregnant women and those of childbearing age who may become pregnant. FDA advises these women to select a variety of other kinds of fish -- including shellfish, canned fish, smaller ocean fish or farm-raised fish -- and that these women can safely eat 12 ounces per week of cooked fish. A typical serving size of fish is from 3 to 6 ounces.

Chloramphenicol

Gorton's Fresh Seafood buys only shrimp that has been tested and found to contain no detectable level of chloramphenicol.

Chloramphenicol is a potent, broad-spectrum antibiotic drug used only at therapeutic doses for treatment of serious infections in humans. Due to the unpredictable effects of dose on different patient populations, it has not been possible to identify a safe level of human exposure to chloramphenicol. Therefore, Federal regulations prohibit its use in food producing animals and animal-feed products. The FDA continues to work with other governments and state agencies to insure the safety of the U. S. food supply.

Listeria in Ready-to-Eat Foods such as Smoked Salmon

Gorton's Fresh Seafood sells only the finest Scottish smoked salmon that is fully cooked and ready-to-eat, sliced and vacuum-sealed on a board to retain its gourmet flavor and freshness. Gorton's Fresh Seafood sells only those products that meet its high quality standards.

Today, ready-to-eat foods (such as hot dogs, deli meats, salads) are produced under strict food safety regulations to minimize the risk of microbial contamination after processing. However, despite these strict food safety measures, some ready-to-eat foods may come into contact with a bacteria called Listeria monocytogenes.

Listeria monocytogenes is a bacterium that can cause serious infection in humans called listeriosis. Pregnant women, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems are at higher risk for listeriosis. Therefore, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration recommends that pregnant women, young children and older adults, and people with weakened immune systems should not eat refrigerated smoked seafood unless contained in a cooked dish such as a casserole.

Consumption of Raw and Undercooked Shellfish and Other Seafood

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advises individuals whose immune systems are compromised not to eat any raw or partially cooked molluscan shellfish or other seafood. These people are susceptible to serious illnesses that are caused by naturally occurring marine bacteria from the Vibrio species.

If you have questions concerning seafood or seafood safety, please feel free to contact Gorton's Fresh Seafood.