Food Sourcing Policy

At Harrods, we recognise that it is our responsibility to source fish and seafood in a responsible and more sustainable manner. This has been defined by the SSC (Sustainable Seafood Coalition) Code of Conduct. This is not a certification standard, and members adhere to the terms and conditions of third-party certification schemes.

We aim to source our fish and seafood that are caught or farmed using methods that are the least destructive to the marine environment, from healthy fish stocks and harvested in a manner that allows species to continue to be available for future generations.

We support the Sustainable Development Goals established by the United Nations, with reference to goal fourteen: Life Below Water, which is part of the 2030 agenda. The goal is to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas, and marine resources for sustainable development.

Sourcing seafood sustainably somewhere with such an extensive range takes dedication and Harrods' food technical team keep in close contact with us. Red-rated seafood refers to endangered species and seafood whose farming or capture does unacceptable amounts of damage to our ocean – the European eel, for example, is as endangered as Bengal tigers, yet still finds it's way onto menus and fishmongers’ slabs across the country. Last Christmas, Harrods took the bold step to cease all trade of Canadian lobsters during their highest trading period after the lobsters had moved onto our red list due to concerns that critically endangered white whales were being entangled in lobster pots.

Many people assume that luxury foods have a higher impact on the environment but if you check the Good Fish Guide, caviar, Dover sole, langoustines and oysters – all things on Harrods’ fish counter – can be green-rated depending on how and where they are caught. By varying the seafood we eat, we can take the strain off popular species and add new, sustainable favourites to our diets.”

In order to source fish and seafood responsibly, Harrods will take the following actions:

1. Where rated, we only source seafood and fish from fisheries and farms that are rated 1 to 3 by the Marine Conservation Society (MCS) and we avoid all seafood that is amber or red rated on the Good Fish Guide.

2. Harrods is a member of the SSC (Sustainable Seafood Coalition)

3. We avoid all seafood that is listed as endangered or critically endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list of threatened species.

4. In the absence of an MCS rating, we source fish and seafood based on data from other assessment tools. The decision to stock a product is individually assessed on whether the fish/seafood product is sourced sustainably/responsibly via a review of catch area, method, sustainability certifications and consultation with advisory bodies i.e. SSC or MCS.

5. 100% of our oysters are sourced from Grade A waters and undergo a subsequent purification process.

6. Our Harrods Own Label pre-pack wild-caught or farmed fish are certified as sustainably caught or responsibly farmed by credible independent organisations such as the MSC or GAA BAP (2-star or better).

7. Our wild salmon is licensed and responsibly caught in the River Tweed using net and cobble.We do not permit the routine use of antibiotics and growth-promoting hormones in farmed seafood products.

8. We maintain our lobsters in optimum conditions throughout their life and apply good husbandry practices to prevent disease and promote welfare, by establishing a maximum carrying capacity.

9. We take measures to ensure that all the seafood we buy has been legally caught and landed. We will only purchase from suppliers who can demonstrate their compliance with relevant international, national, and local laws and regulations.

Caviar

We do not permit the sale of wild capture caviar. Harrods Own Label caviar is from farmed aquaculture sturgeon species and carries CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) certification. The international trade in all sturgeon species is regulated under CITES and it provides full traceability back to source and ensures sustainable international trade.
Our caviar is DNA tested a minimum of 2x a year to monitor the authenticity of individual species.