New to buying fish at ALDI? Here’s what they have to offer–plus some good news about their commitment to sustainability.
Thanks to ALDI for sponsoring this post!
I fancy myself something of an ALDI guru, so imagine my shock when a friend reached out recently via email with a pretty simple question: “What can you tell me about the fresh salmon at ALDI?”
Um, excuse me…what fresh salmon at ALDI?!
For as much of a regular I am at my local ALDI store, I somehow missed this exciting development.
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Something else I didn’t know about: The commitment ALDI has to sustainability when it comes to its fish and seafood. Sustainability is important to a lot of us—and I know I’m not alone when I say that concerns about it can make grocery shopping even more confusing.
So with the help of the folks at ALDI, I dug into the topic and got up to speed—and I wanted to share what I know now, so you can be a better-informed ALDI shopper too. For my friend who emailed me about the fresh salmon (and for all of you!) here’s the scoop:
ALDI sells fresh fish every day.
Newsflash (at least to me): It’s true! ALDI started carrying fresh fish last year. You’ll find it in the same section as their fresh meat and poultry, and it’s available every day. They stock varieties like Atlantic salmon and tilapia (both plain and pre-seasoned), and their fresh fish has never been frozen.
ALDI carries frozen, chilled, and shelf-stable fish and seafood too.
You’ll find items like canned and pouch tuna on shelves. In the refrigerated section, ALDI carries fish fillets like Sea Queen Fresh Atlantic Salmon and tilapia, ready-to-cook breaded fish, and scallops. In the freezer case, you can snag shrimp (raw or cooked). On a recent shopping trip, I spied packages of frozen crab legs.
ALDI is committed to sustainability when buying fish and seafood.
ALDI is dedicated to buying all of its fish and shellfish products from responsibly managed fisheries and farms that have minimal impacts on the marine environment. You’ll spot a Marine Stewardship Council “Certified Sustainable Seafood” tag on shelves (that means the product comes from a certified sustainable fishery) and a “Best Aquaculture Practices Certified” badge on some of the packages (that indicates the highest standards for seafood processing, farms, hatcheries, and feed mills). ALDI has also partnered with the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership, which is a non-profit group that works to rebuild depleted fish stocks and reduce the environmental impact of fishing and fish farming.
Some examples of what the ALDI commitment to sustainability looks like when it comes to fish and seafood:
- Sourcing only from suppliers that share the commitment to sustainability and transparency.
- Refusing to source from fisheries and/or vessels that have contributed to illegal, unreported, or unregulated fishing.
- Aiming to source from wild fisheries that follow best practices, like minimizing impact on the ecosystem and reducing “by-catch” (when fisheries catch other species like dolphins or turtles in their nets and lines).
- Aiming to source from farms that reduce the environmental impact on surrounding plants and animals and promote fish health and welfare.
- Preferably sourcing seafood products that are certified according to the standards set by the Marine Stewardship Council, Best Aquaculture Practices, or the Aquaculture Stewardship Council.
- Using their influence as a large-scale buyer to encourage improvements that promote sustainability.
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You can find more details in their US Seafood Buying Policy.
Remember that you can find a lot of information about the fish or seafood on the package too, including:
- how it was procured (from a wild fishery or a farm)
- the area where it was caught OR the country of origin if it was farmed
Since the American Heart Association recommends eating fish twice a week because it’s such a good source of protein and heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids (especially salmon), I like that ALDI makes that much more affordable to do.
And when you’re ready to prepare your fish and seafood, check out all of the recipes on the ALDI website.
| You might also like: 12 Things You Didn’t Know About ALDI |
Salmon that is labeled “Atlantic” is farmed and not caught fresh in the wild. Farmed and wild salmon are usually different species of fish.
Exactly!! Farmed salmon is not healthy! They have to color it artificially by the feed that they are fed. And even then you can tell the difference between wild caught salmon and farmed salmon by the pale color of the meat or the flesh. All Atlantic salmon is farmed. Alaskan salmon is not farmed.
Farmed shrimp is the most unhealthy meat that you can consume, based on what they’re fed and the, usually, filthy sewage and household runoff pouring into the water! They are grown in horrific conditions in the ponds or tanks where they’re raised!
On the other hand, truly wild caught shrimp are an extremely healthy food!
No, not all Atlantic salmon is farmed. I can say this with confidence having lived in Norway for nine years and having bought both kinds.
I think the point was rather that ALDI salmon, only being labelled “fresh” and “Atlantic” is certainly farmed. Anything with vague origins and which does not say “farmed” or “wild” is certainly farmed. Plus, you can sort of tell – wild Atlantic salmon has a darker hue (less fatty).
Your blanket statements about farmed fish and seafood are not doing anyone reading them a service. Conditions under which these products are farmed are tremendously varied. Do a little research and you’ll be fine. Just don’t buy ANYTHING at Aldi! Every single piece of seafood they sell was processed in China.
Says “Processed in USA” and then “Product of Honduras” on the package.
I do not want Tilapia that was farmed in China.
Farmed fish are fed grains!
Gluten intolerant people do not know this!!
As soon as I see China on the pkg, I drop it like a hot potatoe! Costco does the same!
The fresh ATALANTIC SALMON HAS SCALES ON IT
Absolutely correct and important health issue regarding what fish you eat!!!
I bought a pkt of 4 frozen salmon 2 went in the bin!
Yes, I was fooled by this. Unfortunately I have been to multiple fish farms all over the world and have never seen a good one. The food they give them is rubbish and the fish can barely move around in the murky water.. What a shame.
Aldi had sides of Salmon with a herb crust for sale in the freezer section.
I have not seen them for a few months.
Does Aldi intend to sell this product again.?
They were really good and great value, especially for a dinner party.
You just had to put them on a baking tray in the oven , and they always came out beautifully .
I had friends around for dinner one night and they wanted to know how I did it. I couldn’t lie.
This gave me absolutely no information about the quality of the fish and levels of antibiotics etc. Not helpful.
Exactly my issue!!
Saw in aldi today whole barrumundi at lismore shop,is this australian barra.?
Can anyone tell me what is the feed used
For the farmed fish? Does it have grain
In it ?
Cheers M
Hi Michelle, I believe the feed can contain grain like corn or wheat.
Yes and plenty of antibiotics!!
What are your thoughts about the wild caught salmon that claims to be caught in the US and processed in China? What’s happening here??
Hi Blakely–I haven’t heard of that. If you have a link to a news story about it, would be happy to take a look.
You don’t need a link. Read the back of the bag of frozen “Wild Caught Pink Salmon Fillets.” Under the nutrition label and ingredients it says:
WILD CAUGHT IN USA
PROCESSED IN CHINA
PRODUCT OF CHINA
I’m an Aldi shopper and will be reading every label from now on and doing a LOT more research on where their food REALLY comes from.
Have you found any additional information about that kind of fish? I just bought 2 lb pack and noticed the same think (packed in china), I’m thinking of throwing it.
I am allergic to shellfish is this wild caught samon sea food
Salmon is not considered shellfish. Here’s more about shellfish allergy: https://www.foodallergy.org/common-allergens/shellfish-allergy
Hi, I just threw out my pkg of ALDI Atlantic caught Cod fillets…….small print on pkg said it is then shipped to be processed in China. I have started to research why we don’t want fish processed in China because of the processes used.
Don’t want any fish processes in China nasty dirty !!! I have seen videos on this on history channel. No thanks!!
Just bought a can of tuna at aldis today. Ate all of it then I noticed in says product of China on can. I literally threw it up. Never again
I have recently called customer service to inquire about farming practices of the salmon Aldis sells. After a week they called me back with a ref number. I asked for a name of the fishery, they refused to tell me. I then asked for a supervisor. After arguing with me that the supervisor would give me the same information she tried to connect me and said if she couldn’t get a supervisor she would direct me to voice mail. Well, no supervisor and she then told me to go to aldis website and I could see the laws and practices that they do not have to reveal companies their fish are sourced. She would not give me a number to leave a message for a supervisor and eventually hung up on me. Some farmed fishing have horrendous practices a consumer should be able to research what we consume. The recent e coli outbreak with romaine is due to unregulated and eased standards on water testing. It would not be beyond belief that standards in farmed fishing could have also been eased. I have stopped buying “fresh” salmon at aldis and will continue not to eat it. Buyer beware
can anyone comment on the farmed raised trout from Peru. it looked tempting, but in the ingredients it said “color added when feeding” googled what that meant as I had no idea. It means that they add “astaxanthin” when they feed them, which I have no idea if its heartily to consume or not. I also saw farmed salmon from Chile, but I completely left it because I know they have been having big issues with their farming practices and use of antibiotics, which will not be healthy for the end consumer.
Very interesting conversation. After doing my own research, Aldi’s Atlantic Salmon from Chili has the “Best Aquacultre Practices” Seal which is an eco approved by Seafood Watch as a “Good Alternative” source. After looking at the Seafood Watch the eco-certified by the Aquaculture Stewardship Council is on their approved list. I suggest downloading the Seafood Watch app to check what you intend to eat.
https://www.seafoodsource.com/?utm_source=marketo&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter&utm_content=newsletter&mkt_tok=eyJpIjoiWXpZeVltSmtNelZqWXpsaCIsInQiOiJCZGY5eWFFOTZpRWFmQ3E0b0hWNmVScDJ4UjBPZ3Z5SnU0N2hWK3djV0ZEK21RZSs2ODZxcVNqYlB2dnBMMlNjUWN5YW8xMUc3TnhWU2RBZ05SbVlMUTJwWmlPQkZraUQ2XC9YUndYdE1zaWV6KzNvWDJkVm1EOEYySVIxaFwvRVNLIn0%3D
I do not purchase seafood or meat at Aldi though I do purchase most of my other grocery items there. Their seafood is mostly from China or Asia. I do not find the meat section appealing. The cuts of meat do not seem to be good quality.
I can tell you Aldi’s meat and seafood is 10x better in freshness and 1000 times better in taste than any large supermarket in the US. Most of the he smaller stores that had good meats are now closed.
This is very true. Aldi meats are also packaged better than the large supermarkets. And if you get a cut of meat that ends up being a bad cut, they have the doubleback money guarantee. And by “bad cut” I mean I have gotten a grissly steak before and St. Louis spare ribs that had bone fragments in it. Just packaged them back up and took them in for a full refund and replacement. U arent gonna get that deal at the big supermarkets.
I agree.. I will say that I prefer the flavor of the Tilapia and salmon at Walmart and Kroger’s over Aldi’s, but Aldi’s does have the “Special Selective’ smoked salmon that is wonderful! As far as “farmed’ verses “wild, my husband and I definitely prefer the farmed taste over wild. The expense of wild salmon is not an issue with us, but it simply is just not as tasty and tender. One chain restaurant we sometimes go to has switched their salmon form farmed to wild and it is not nearly as good. As far as all the stories told about farmed fish, we will just take that chance and it is the main way we get Omega 3 in our diet.. We have it once a week and I have Adi’s smoked salmon as a lunch on a low calorie bun on a different day of the week..
I used to like Tilapia until I found out it was a “bottom feeder” meaning it eats ANYTHING . That why it usually costs so much less than other fish. It’s gross.
PS. I love the Aldi’s fresh frozen Whiting. It’s a fish that will only eat certain things and therefore clean white meat fish. The tastiest, no bone fish ever!!! Other stores will say it’s whiting,but it isn’t. Aldi has REAL whiting.
B ought a package of steelhead trout says it is farm raised in Peru. Don’t see a certification seal? Concerned is this a safe farmed fishery to consumers?
Well it looks like I waisted my 10 dollars on FRESH ALDI FARM RAISED SALMON…after doing my research and reading comments I am never eating farm raised again
Hi Anne–farmed may actually have slightly higher levels of omega-3 and it also tends to be more affordable, which means you may end up eating fish more often. In the end you need to do what you’re comfortable with, but just wanted to mention those things.
farmed will have higher omega 6! Absolutely. and that is not healthy
OK. I just asked a simple question, i.e., is it safe to eat? The article doesn’t even try to answer the question. I don’t need a two page ad for ALDI no matter how conscientious it claims to be regarding freshness and sustainability. I want to know if it’s safe to eat. Because I can’t get a straight answer from the merchant, does anyone else on this comment page know where to look for the answer to my question?
Tim–they would not sell food that is unsafe to eat. Is there something in particular you are concerned about when it comes to safety?
I asked a friend to get me beer batter fried cod. Haven’t had it for years. Love it. Then in the goodness of her heart, she got me Fremont breaded butterfly shrimp. I’ve never had a complaint about a product before, but this was disgusting. I had 2 boxes. Both were rubbery and no shrimp flavor to my liking.. Then I looked at the facts: Product of Vietnam Farm raised.. That explains the situation. I only purchase seafood products that are fresh caught in the northern Pacific. Still have that bad aftertaste in my mouth. NO farm raised seafood from any country for me.. Thank you.
Despite my negative comment, I truly wish you would add an Aldi’s to Winona, MN. I don’t know the criteria, but the population is over 50,000 plus an added 4 colleges/trade schools.
I bought a package of Aldi’s ”pink Salmon, also bought Alaska wild caught frozen Cod”.. I thought it was from Alaska. Just read the labels says “processed and product of China for pink Salmon” I was shocked.. Then I looked at the wild caught frozen Cod” I bought. Thought it was from Alaska. Shocked again. The labels says “caught in Alaska, processed and produced in China”. Why does the Alaskan state allows China to come to their waters to catch fish.?
I am disappointed with Aldi. Will never but salmon and cod again from them.. Chinese cannot be trusted, if they kill their own people with tainted milk and tainted medicines, they cannot be trusted. Chinese people do not trust their own business people, they go overseas to get their medicines and the rich get their baby milk from Australia and New Zealand,
Wow! I hadn’t realized Aldi sold fresh fish. I haven’t seen it at my local store, but that may be because I live so far inland. I’ve been buying my seafood online for years, but I will now be keeping my eye out at the grocery store. Thank you!
Can we use the frozen Aldi salmon as shushimi? Is it instantly frozen?
The Atlantic salmon fillets (Herb) in the frozen section say “Method of Production: Aquaculture. Country of Aquaculture:Norway. It also states “Packed in Denmark from imported and Danish ingredients”. Imported from where ? Norway ?
I am not a salmon fan but I do like Aldi’s Atlantic salmon. However, if it is farm raised, I have my doubts on getting the omega 3’s which is the reason we eat it. I have been told that only wild have the omega 3’s because the salmon eat the plankton or other marine vegetables which provide the omega 3’s. After reading all the post above, I am not sure anyone really knows. I would like a source that could tell me. Also, I do not want to eat fish feed corn and soy, which I understand is done with some fish and shell fish farms. So confusing. I really like this salmon but will not be happy if I am not getting a good product.
Will u be selling the frozen flounder again. Hoped to find it today at aldi but no luck.