Pentagon moves to boost Gulf seafood sales

Tuesday, February 08, 2011, 01:30 (GMT + 9)

US consumers remain skeptical about eating seafood from the Gulf of Mexico even 10 months after last year’s BP ruinous oil spill. The Pentagon is addressing the issue by promoting various products from the region at 72 of its base commissaries along the country’s east coast to increase sales.

The Defence Commissary Agency (DeCa) now sells its products to military personnel, reservists, retirees and their families.








DeCa’s Gulf products currently being sold include fish, shrimp, oysters, crab cakes, jambalaya and shrimp etouffee, WTMA reports.

"The big statement is, our Gulf seafood is safe, delicious and healthy," said Chris Laborde of the Gulf Seafood Alliance, reports WDSU New Orleans.

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Industries in the Gulf region are responding to the government’s aid with gratitude due to consumers’ reluctance to eat Gulf seafood despite the extensive testing that has been run, and which has demonstrated that seafood from the Gulf of Mexico is indeed is safe to eat. Local chefs consider the government’s move a big deal.

"But a bigger deal is that there have been people that are promoting all of the armed services, not just the Army, to buy Louisiana seafood - shrimp, oysters, crab meat, crawfish, fin fish, straight across the board," said New Orleans chef Tenney Flynn.



Yet, many US denizens still believe the food is toxic and could remain so for years, as a result of the oil that poured out from BP’s deepwater well and the chemical dispersants subsequently used to help clean up the spill.

Gulf seafood sales have plunged sharply since the 20 April 2010 explosion on an offshore rig that led to the catastrophe. A recent survey reported that 70 per cent of people in the country are still nervous about eating Gulf seafood.

The Pentagon’s stores are now heavily promoting the area’s seafood and particularly around New Orleans, Louisiana, reports ABC News Radio.

"The entire 250-store commissary system of the Department of Defence is basically introducing - phasing it in with about 75 commissaries from Maryland to Texas - a new frozen domestic seafood, which is focused on Gulf seafood," Laborde said.

"We want to help get the message out, but more importantly, we want to share this with our military families," he added.