About
The Good Food Guild relies on the expertise of the fish community to develop, revise and set standards for the category. As fisheries and canneries evolve, so do our standards. Read on to learn what those standards are and meet the preserved fish crafters of the Good Food Guild.
Standards
In order to join the Good Food Guild, fish companies must meet the following standards for at least 50% of their product line:
- Caught or farmed in US waters.*
- Processed and handcrafted in the USA or US territories.
- Free of artificial ingredients, including colors, flavors and preservatives.
- All ingredients, animal or otherwise, must be sustainably sourced, traceable, non- GMO, and wherever possible grown without the use of synthetic herbicides, pesticides, fungicides or fertilizers.**
- Caught or farmed with respect and fair compensation for everyone working on the vessel, farm and in the kitchen.
- Made with fish or shellfish or seaweed from well-managed, environmentally responsible fisheries and farms. Farmed finfish must be from land-based facilities, and fed a non-GMO diet free of animal by-products.
- All wild caught or farmed fish must be rated “Best Choice” or “Good Alternative” by the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch®.***
- Swordfish must be caught in US waters using harpoons, handlines or deep-set buoy gear only.
- Made by a crafter that is an upstanding member of the good food community, committed to equity and inclusion in all levels of their business,**** as exemplified through integrating these practices:
- Creating a safe and healthy work environment where employees receive a fair wage, are safe and respected at work and have access to the resources they need to keep themselves healthy.
- Offering a diversity, equity, and inclusion training to staff members and/or leadership annually.
- Thoughtfully acknowledging the heritage of culturally-specific food on websites, packaging and/or marketing materials.
- For the small percentage of Good Food community that operates on a significantly larger scale, meeting additional criteria related to board diversity, maternity leave and employment practices.****
In addition, all seaweed entries must be harvested or farmed in compliance with the following standards:
- Ensures purchase of seaweed from farmer prior to harvest.
- Post-harvest processing of seaweed is done within 24 hours, or 1 week if refrigerated, to maintain product quality.
- With an emphasis on encouraging the symbiotic relationships of species.
- In a way that sustains regenerative life cycles, with thought for the specific needs of different species to ensure the success of future harvests.
- With an emphasis on maintaining a safe distance from hazardous waste streams and tidal currents.
Many thanks to our friends at Monterey Bay Seafood Watch® and Fish Revolution for their assistance in developing our criteria.
*For producers working close to the borders of Mexico or Canada, the Good Food Foundation will evaluate based on a case by case basis.
**If less than 2% of ingredients in the product do not meet this stipulation, the product will not be disqualified.
*** The Good Food Foundation will refer to Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch® Guiding Principles should there be any question as to eligibility based on these criteria. Species that are not rated by Seafood Watch will be evaluated on a case by case basis. Please email connect@goodfoodfdn.org with any eligibility questions.
****Check if you are in the 2% of companies meeting the Good Food Foundation definition of large scale, and review the additional criteria on the Rules & Regulations page.
Meet the preserved fish crafters of the Good Food Guild and apply to join.