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Heartland Catfish Company Eliminates Phosphate-Based Additive

NEWS RELEASE

November 29, 2022

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact Information:

Audrey Funchess, Public Relations Manager

TRINDGROUP

Phone: (334) 246-1535

Email: audrey.funchess@trindgroup.com

 

Heartland Catfish Company Eliminates Phosphate-Based Additive

Heartland Catfish phosphate-free initiative increases consumer accessibility and environmental sustainability

Itta Bena, Miss. (November 29, 2022)- Heartland Catfish Company announces its transition to phosphate-free solutions. Removing phosphates previously utilized in frozen products will reduce environmental impacts and increase Heartland Catfish products consumer accessibility while continuing to provide the highest-quality products consumers are confident in.

As the largest vertically integrated U.S. farm-raised catfish producer, Heartland Catfish is the industry’s first choice for Individually Quick Frozen (IQF) catfish. Heartland Catfish frozen products such as frozen fillets and frozen nuggets are injected before freezing with a solution that aids in water retention and increases the longevity of products quality.

Previously, Heartland Catfish used a solution of water, sodium tripolyphosphate, sodium hexametaphosphate, ascorbic acid and citric acid. The decision to move to a phosphate-free operation was two-fold. As consumers become more food focused and better educate themselves on what is in their food, replacing the additive was an easy decision. Consumers with kidney disease and those who seek healthy seafood options, now have a catfish option.

Secondly, due to use of this additive, phosphates were part of the processing waste stream. This waste stream flows into Heartland Catfish’s on-site wastewater treatment system and is eventually introduced into a lagoon system where treated water is discharged into a local river.  While working with regulatory bodies, Heartland Catfish was alerted to elevated phosphorus in the discharge water from its lagoon system. Noting the potential for environmental impact, Heartland explored several options and determined that eliminating the phosphorus source was the best solution to minimize environmental impacts and maintain their commitment to sustainability without compromising the quality or shelf life of products.

“Our team at Heartland Catfish is committed to producing high-quality and sustainable products that are produced in an environmentally responsible manner. We made the decision to remove phosphates as an additive to prevent negative effects on the environment and while doing so made our products more accessible to those who experience adverse health effects with products containing added phosphates,” said Jonathan Mills, Heartland Catfish VP of Sales and Marketing.

Heartland Catfish Company has worked closely with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to help set the standard for the Food Safety and Inspection Service’s (FSIS) oversight of the catfish industry. This strong partnership has elevated Heartland Catfish Company’s Itta Bena, Mississippi facility as a showcase plant for USDA FSIS due to its reputation for quality control and assurance. Heartland Catfish Company is committed to producing the highest quality products and protecting consumer safety.

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About Heartland Catfish

Founded in 1996, Heartland Catfish Company has grown into the country’s largest U.S. Farm-Raised Catfish producer and processor and is located in Itta Bena, Miss. Owned by the Tackett Family of Tackett Fish Farms, Heartland Catfish Company is the largest single producer of farm-raised catfish in the United States and sells fresh and frozen catfish products to retailers and restaurants around the country. Follow Heartland Catfish Company on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram and visit heartlandcatfish.com to learn more.

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Hannah Jones

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CONTACT:
(662) 254-7100
info@heartlandcatfish.com
ADDRESS:
55001 Highway 82 West
Itta Bena, Mississippi 38941 US
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Heartland Catfish Company is committed to supplying our customers with the highest quality U.S. Farm-Raised Catfish products by offering outstanding customer service, at the best value. Our commitment is exhibited in our strict quality standards, state-of-the-art processing facilities and our experienced team.

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