What’s In Your Food – Is U.S. Farm-Raised Catfish fed antibiotics or hormones?
Curious about what’s in your food? Recently, there has been interest in how catfish are raised and what they are fed. At Heartland Catfish, our U.S. Farm-Raised Catfish products are not only a healthy source of protein, but also free from antibiotics and hormones.
Don’t just take our word for it; hear it from the experts. The USDA reports that U.S. Farm-Raised Catfish are not given hormones or routinely raised with antibiotics. Moreover, The Catfish Institute, TCI, a group formed by catfish farmers and feed manufacturers to raise awareness and promote the catfish industry, says U.S. Farm-Raised Catfish is not given any added hormones. There are instances when medication is required to treat an illness and only then and when necessary, are doses of antibiotics given. Learn more about our quality commitment, and regulations surrounding U.S. Farm-Raised Catfish on our website.
Heartland’s Commitment to Quality Feed
Aquaculture feed is regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, but we pride ourselves on the high-protein, grain-based floating feed that gives our products their signature mild and sweet flavor.
Three areas of greatest importance we consider to deliver our customers high-quality products:
- Our catfish feed is manufactured from crop-derived ingredients and contains no added antibiotics or hormones.
- We employ minimal use of antibiotics and other chemicals to treat disease.
- We receive routine visits from the FDA and USDA to ensure the safest products are available to you.
To further illustrate our commitment to our products, the Tackett family owns and manages the ponds that provide about 50% of the catfish processed annually. The remaining supply is from select partner farmers and raised in man-made freshwater ponds that use the latest farming practices and best management practices.
Imported Catfish
Compared to U.S. Farm-Raised Catfish, imported catfish is raised with few to no regulations, and it’s more likely to contain toxins and higher levels of heavy metals, such as mercury. Read our previous blog to learn how we go the extra mile.
Moreover, the USDA requires inspections for U.S. Farm-Raised Catfish that are performed by the USDA Food Safety Inspection Service, FSIS, to ensure the products are free from disease. According to TCI, there is a significant number of imported catfish being sold in the United States that originates in Southeast Asia and is processed under less stringent and consistent conditions. The lack of known regulations surrounding imported catfish further solidifies why buying Heartland, U.S. Farm-Raised Catfish is a good choice for your family.
Recipe Recommendations
Now that you know why choosing Heartland, U.S. Farm-Raised Catfish is a good option, add this protein option to your recipe rotation!
- Refreshing Pan-Seared Catfish with Pomegranate Salsa
- Catfish with Lemon Pasta
- Grilled Citrus Rosemary Catfish
Learn more about our product offerings by visiting our website, attempt one of our recipes and tag us @heartlandcatfishco!
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