A good seafood program begins with vigorous supplier food safety inspections/programs and visits to aquaculture farms/hatcheries, fishing boats, seafood auction houses, and manufacturing facilities.

The standards you should look for in your seafood program include:

Truth in Labeling: Seafood suppliers should utilize COOL (Country of Origin Labeling) practices and be able to provide FDA testing to ensure that verified species are properly labeled.

Environment:  You understand the importance of responsibility, sustainability and manageability in the seafood industry, and should encourage suppliers to do so as well.

Expertise:  Look for seafood suppliers to provide ongoing high levels of industry expertise. Training, market reports, options and alternatives, seasonal advice, and research and information on upcoming trends are all beneficial.

Government: Seek suppliers and manufacturers who monitor the importance of government initiatives and proposals for national safety standards, and then puts the safety standards into perspective.