Whole Foods discontinues krill oil?! To my surprise, the popular omega-3 oil has been removed from all Whole Foods supermarkets. According to the recently published article in Natural Foods Merchandiser, krill oil is being questioned for its sustainability.
Krill are shrimp like crustaceans that are vital to the ocean’s eco system. Many marine animals such as penguins, seals, and whales depend upon this little crustacean as their primary food source. In recent years, the growing popularity of krill has resulted in a decline in marine life in the areas where krill is most fished. In response to their decision, Whole Foods states, “Consequently, at present we are choosing to discontinue the sale of krill supplements as we continue to evaluate this emerging research. Please consider alternatives to krill oil supplements such as fish oil or astaxanthin supplements.”
Ditch krill and go for squid! Squid are the perfect alternative to krill and other unsustainable omega-3 products. These little creatures have a short lifespan of one to three years, and reproduce rapidly at a young age. CardioTabs Ocean Safe Omega-3 is one of the only supplements made from sustainable squid. In addition to their rapid reproduction rates, squid are a more environmentally friendly choice because they are caught using jig gear. Using jig gear means there is almost zero by-catch and our delicate ocean ecosystems are not damaged.
Kaylin Cook is the “Green Leader” at CardioTabs. She grew up in Boulder, Colorado, where she learned to be more aware of her environment. Some of her personal green efforts include recycling, replacing her light bulbs with energy efficient bulbs, buying biodegradable products, and using cloth grocery bags. Kaylin keeps busy by renovating a foreclosed house. She has found several ways to make her house environmentally friendly, such as using bamboo flooring and replacing old heating and cooling units. Kaylin is a student majoring in dietetics at the University of Central Missouri. She loves learning about nutrition and hopes to take her RD exam in the next few years.
Posted by James Townsend on May 25, 2010 at 5:14 pm
Interesting! Never knew about omega-3s from squid. As for Whole Foods, they made a hasty and wrong-headed move. I talked with several of the head scientists who help determine the sustainability of the krill fishery in Antarctica, and they maintain it is a far better managed fishery (for sustainability) than most of the other fisheries in the world’s oceans. You can read my blog about it, if you’re interested, at WellWise.org.