Europe’s largest salmon producers are introducing chicken byproducts into fish feed, overturning a long-standing industry taboo. Lerøy Seafood Group, a major supplier to Tesco, has already implemented poultry-based feed at all its offshore farms, while Mowi, the top producer and supplier to Sainsbury’s and Asda, plans similar moves in Norway and Scotland. The shift is driven by the near-doubling of traditional fishmeal prices due to overfishing and surging Chinese demand, making poultry feed less than half the cost per tonne.
Despite consumer skepticism and past bans in Britain over disease risks, experts now say the market is more receptive. Retailers like Tesco and Waitrose previously prohibited animal proteins in feed but have not confirmed if policies have changed. The change could boost Britain’s chicken industry by increasing demand for processing byproducts.
Environmental groups warn that consumers avoiding chicken for ethical reasons may not be informed. The transition is also accelerated by El Niño disrupting Peruvian anchovy fisheries and the loss of sustainability certification for blue whiting. Lerøy’s feed manager stated poultry meal was the only viable alternative that met all operational and sustainability criteria.
Source: Financial Times Companies · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing