Seafood industry tries to make fish look and taste more like meat
AP News • • business
Key Points:
- The U.S. seafood industry is increasingly marketing fish products disguised as familiar meat items like fried chicken, salami, and burgers to appeal to Americans' limited interest in traditional seafood.
- Americans consume about 19 pounds of seafood annually, significantly less than the global average of 45 pounds, with most consumption focused on shrimp and salmon.
- Some industry experts and advocates criticize the trend of disguising seafood, arguing that consumers should eat fish in its natural form to support sustainable, community-based fisheries.
- The seafood market has been largely stagnant, with growth mainly from sushi and price increases; disguised seafood products aim to attract younger consumers by presenting fish in familiar, convenient formats.
- Innovative products like fish spareribs and seafood snacks resembling popular chips are emerging, though it remains uncertain if these will significantly expand seafood consumption among non-fans.
