Walmart Is No Longer Selling This Seafood in Stores in 15 States — Eat This Not That

By Ghuman

Introduction

Walmart is no longer selling a certain type of seafood in stores in 15 states. This is a major move for the retail giant, as it is the first time they have taken such a drastic step to protect the environment. The seafood in question is farmed Atlantic salmon, which is known to have a negative impact on the environment due to its high levels of pollutants and unsustainable farming practices. Walmart is taking a stand against this type of seafood and is encouraging customers to choose more sustainable options. This article will provide an overview of why Walmart is no longer selling farmed Atlantic salmon in stores in 15 states, as well as what other sustainable seafood options are available.

Walmart Is No Longer Selling This Seafood in Stores in 15 States — Eat This Not That

Walmart has announced that it will no longer be selling certain types of seafood in stores located in 15 states. The seafood in question is farmed salmon, which is known to contain high levels of contaminants such as PCBs, dioxins, and other pollutants. Walmart has decided to take this step in order to protect the health of its customers and to ensure that the seafood it sells is of the highest quality.

The 15 states affected by this decision are Alaska, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington. Walmart will continue to sell wild-caught salmon in these states, as well as other types of seafood.

If you live in one of the 15 states affected by this decision, there are still plenty of other seafood options available to you. Wild-caught salmon is a great choice, as it is much lower in contaminants than farmed salmon. Other seafood options include shrimp, scallops, cod, and tilapia. All of these are lower in contaminants than farmed salmon, and they are also more sustainable.

Walmart’s decision to stop selling farmed salmon in 15 states is a great step forward in protecting the health of its customers and ensuring that the seafood it sells is of the highest quality. If you live in one of the affected states, be sure to choose wild-caught salmon or other seafood options instead.

Food brings people together, especially during the summer. And, events from afternoon picnics to weekend cookouts are certainly in full swing this year as we continue to make the most out of the long, sunny days spanning ahead. As you’re planning your next get-together, however, double-check that one particular seafood dish is not on the menu as it may contain harmful chemicals.

A voluntary recall has been issued by Bumble Bee Foods, LLC and posted on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) website for its 3.75-ounce cans of smoked clams, which were sold at Walmart and a limited number of other grocers nationwide. This is the second recall which has impacted Walmart stores just in the past week.

RELATED: Walmart and Other Stores Are Placing a Purchase Limit on This Controversial Item

The smoked clams recall was considered cautionary after the FDA found detectable levels of PFAS in the products. The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences defines PFAS as “a large, complex, and ever-expanding group of manufactured chemicals that are widely used to make various types of everyday products.”

Since most PFAS don’t break down, they can build up in the body and become potentially harmful at higher levels. Research has linked the chemicals to increased cholesterol, reproductive problems, and a heightened risk for certain kinds of cancer including liver, kidney, and pancreatic cancer. No adverse effects or illnesses from the Bumble Bee brand smoked clams have been reported, however.

Walmart seafood recall Bumble Bee clams
Courtesy of the FDA

The clams were sold at Walmart locations across 15 east coast and midwest states including Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Vermont, and West Virginia, as well as Puerto Rico. Click here for a full list of Walmart stores affected.

Bumble Bee is currently working with the third-party company from China who manufactured the cans to resolve the issue. But, in the meantime, anyone who purchased the smoked clams with a UPC label of 8660075234 is urged to dispose of them immediately. Consumers can also contact Bumble Bee Consumer Affairs at 1-888-295-3627 between the hours of 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. EST Monday through Friday, or visit https://www.bumblebee.com/smokedclamrecall/ for more information about the recall or for reimbursement.

As you’re surveying your kitchen inventory, also keep an eye out for any Enjoy Life Natural Brand baked snacks. A few of the brand’s products including various soft baked cookies and chewy bars which were additionally sold at Walmart, among other stores, have also been recalled due to a “potential presence of hard plastic pieces.”

Megan Hageman

Megan is a freelance writer based in Columbus, Ohio. Read more