is hello fresh salmon wild caught

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Getting To The Bottom Of It: Is HelloFresh Salmon Wild Caught?

As a conscientious seafood lover, you want to know where your fish comes from. When ordering meal kits containing salmon it’s natural to wonder – is the salmon in my HelloFresh box wild caught or farmed?

This is an important question, because the origin and catching method impact the taste, texture, nutritional value and sustainability of fish.

In this article, we’ll explore HelloFresh’s salmon sourcing and their supplier’s practices. You’ll also learn about the differences between wild and farmed salmon.

Let’s dive in and discover the details around HelloFresh’s salmon offerings.

HelloFresh Sources Wild Caught Salmon

The short answer is: Yes, HelloFresh salmon is wild caught.

They work exclusively with the seafood supplier Hooked to source sustainable, top-quality salmon.

Hooked manages their own supply chain and provides specs on each fish including:

  • Species
  • Catch method
  • Harvest region
  • Catch date
  • Processing method

This transparency ensures all HelloFresh seafood comes from responsibly caught wild sources.

As a result, their salmon is free of antibiotics or added hormones used on some farms.

Wild Origins Make for Better Flavor and Texture

The varied diet and active lifestyle of wild salmon lend it that signature:

  • Vibrant pink-red hue
  • Savory, rich taste
  • Firm, flaky texture

In contrast, farmed salmon is often greyer and has a blander flavor due to restricted feed options and limited space.

Wild Caught Helps Preserve Salmon Species

Consuming wild sources promotes sustainability and protects delicate marine ecosystems.

Additionally, HelloFresh plans recipes based on seafood availability and monitors population levels. For example, wild-caught salmon minimizes bycatch of other fish species.

Understanding HelloFresh’s Supplier Hooked

Hooked is a vertically integrated seafood company owned by husband-wife duo Dan and Kristin Donovan.

With culinary backgrounds, they are reimagining seafood supply chains. Hooked manages purchasing, processing, and delivery in-house to ensure traceability.

They also host public cooking classes to make fish more approachable. And provide HelloFresh with detailed specs on each product.

This direct supplier relationship provides HelloFresh customers with fully transparent, sustainable wild seafood.

Defining Wild Caught Salmon

The term “wild caught salmon” refers to salmon caught in its natural open-water habitats.

This includes oceans, rivers and lakes across the Northern Hemisphere.

Wild salmon feed on diverse organisms like plankton, krill and smaller fish. Their varied diet and constant swimming leads to firm flesh with healthy fats.

Wild salmon species include:

  • Sockeye
  • Coho
  • King
  • Pink
  • Chum

Certain wild stocks like Alaskan salmon are certified sustainable by the Marine Stewardship Council.

When sourced responsibly, wild caught salmon provides excellent nutrition and flavor while protecting ecosystems.

Understanding Farmed Salmon

Farmed salmon are raised in enclosed pens and fed processed food pellets. The most common farmed variety is Atlantic salmon.

Farm conditions are crowded, so antibiotics and pesticides may be used. Artificial dye is added to color the typically grey flesh pink.

While fatty acids come from fish feed, levels are lower than wild salmon due to plant-based ingredients.

Because they don’t swim long distances or eat a diverse diet, farmed salmon has comparatively:

  • Less distinct flavor
  • More saturated fat
  • Fewer omega-3s

And concerns have arisen over contaminants like PCBs in some farms.

HelloFresh and Hooked Prioritize Sustainable Seafood

HelloFresh partners exclusively with suppliers that meet seafood sustainability standards.

Their providers must have certifications like:

  • Monterey Bay Seafood Watch approved sources
  • Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) compliant facilities
  • Global GAP certification for produce items

Meanwhile, Hooked goes beyond expectations to make seafood ethical and approachable.

They manage purchasing and delivery in-house for total supply oversight. Salmon meets rigorous standards to minimize environmental impact.

For example, wild Alaskan salmon supports populations without bycatch. And shrimp come from fully closed farming systems.

Benefits and Drawbacks of Wild Salmon

Wild salmon shines in many regards but also has some downsides:

Pros:

  • Higher omega-3 fatty acids
  • Lower contaminants
  • Natural vivid coloration
  • Rich distinctive flavor
  • Firm, flaky texture

Cons:

  • Can be expensive
  • Often seasonal availability
  • Trickier to cook properly
  • Stronger taste than farmed

Benefits and Drawbacks of Farmed Salmon

Meanwhile, farm-raised salmon offers advantages but also raises concerns:

Pros:

  • Greater supply stability and cost efficiency
  • Added pigments produce desired color
  • Omega-3 content boosted through feed

Cons:

  • More saturated fats
  • Use of antibiotics/pesticides
  • Artificial dye added
  • Increased toxins and pollutants
  • Less natural diet impacts nutrition

The Verdict on HelloFresh Salmon

When it comes to meal kit salmon, you want the freshness and fine quality of wild caught fish.

Thankfully, HelloFresh makes this easy by sourcing salmon sustainably through their trusted partner Hooked.

Their transparent supply chain and commitment to seafood stewardship ensures your salmon fillet or smoked salmon arrived fresh from its wild habitat.

So you can enjoy optimal nutrition, texture, flavor and eco-responsibility in every wild caught salmon bite.

is hello fresh salmon wild caught

with Zesty Roasted Carrots & Pistachio Rice

Produced in a facility that processes eggs, milk, fish, peanuts, sesame, shellfish, soy, tree nuts, and wheat.

(Contains Fish)

(Contains Fish, Shellfish)

(Contains Tree Nuts)

I ordered HelloFresh to see if it was a scam.

FAQ

Does HelloFresh use farmed salmon?

Choosing the best suppliers to ensure food safety Global GAP is an industry leading standard and HelloFresh has also started a partnership with them on farmed salmon. Our regular supplier visit program and a team of dedicated FSQA staff make sure to check for certification compliance.

Does HelloFresh use wild-caught fish?

We currently buy both wild-caught and farm-raised fish. We identify the best option for each species on a case-by-case basis and require traceability (including country of origin, catching area, fishery, catch season, and catching method).

Where does HelloFresh fish come from?

The farmed fish that HelloFresh uses are Barramundi, which is a type of sea bass. Barramundi from The Better Fish is farmed a few miles off the coast of Vietnam. The supplier says it focuses on sustainable practices throughout the process, including using less carbon-intensive shipping methods.

Is my salmon really wild-caught?

To give farmed salmon its pink color, additives are needed to turn its naturally white and gray flesh into a pink flesh, however, the color is still lighter than wild salmon. Wild salmon tends to be a deep red/orange and because it is less fatty, the stripes of fat are less visible or nonexistent.

Are farmed salmon dangerous?

Summary The levels of mercury and other trace metals found in wild and farmed salmon do not appear to be harmful when either type is eaten in moderation. Due to the high density of fish in aquaculture, farmed fish are generally more susceptible than wild fish to infections and disease.

Where does wild salmon come from?

Wild salmon is caught in natural environments such as oceans, rivers, and lakes. But half of the salmon sold worldwide comes from fish farms, which use a process known as aquaculture to breed fish for human consumption (2).

How do you know if salmon is wild?

If you’re ordering it at a restaurant, you can spot wild salmon even before you taste it — because the menu will say so. “Wild caught fish are a selling point, so if the description doesn’t say wild, 9 out of 10 times it’s farm-raised,” says Miller. There are also trusted brands, such as Copper River Salmon, that you can ask for by name.

Is farmed salmon better than wild-caught salmon?

While farmed salmon and wild-caught salmon are similar in terms of overall health benefits, farmed salmon may have more added antibiotics. It’s also possible for both farmed and wild caught salmon to contain organic pollutants such as PCBs, as well as mercury.

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