MASI Expands Distribution Of Low-Mercury
Seafood
Safe
Harbor® Certified Seafood
Now Available From American Fish, Lusamerica
San
Rafael, Calif., Jan. 19, 2007,
Micro Analytical Systems,
Inc. (MASI), developer
of the world's first rapid, large-scale
mercury-testing process for seafood, has
expanded distribution of Safe Harbor
certified seafood into Southern California
through American Fish & Seafood Co.,
a leading seafood supplier based in Los
Angeles. MASI introduced Safe Harbor certified
seafood in the San Francisco Bay Area
in the summer of 2006, through Lusamerica
Foods, a major fish processor in Morgan
Hill, Calif., which is currently supplying
several Bay Area supermarkets.
MASI's technology enables
seafood processors to quickly and inexpensively
identify the mercury level of every fish
they sell. Seafood sold with the Safe
Harbor seal is certified to have
a mercury level that is among the lowest
available for its species. All Safe
Harbor seafood meets a far stricter
standard than that set by the U.S. Food
and Drug Administration. MASI
tests more seafood for mercury each year
than any other company or government in
the world.
“Consumers have been asking our
industry to do something about mercury,
and we're pleased to be part of the solution,"
said Jim Lanter, American Fish CEO. “Safe
Harbor gives retailers and restaurants
another reason to buy fish from us. We're
already receiving heavy interest from
our customers."
“MASI is an important
partner in our expansion efforts,"
said John Silva, manager of Lusamerica.
“We recently moved into a new and
expanded facility and have integrated
the Safe Harbor testing process into our
operations so we can quickly fill orders.
The ability to provide mercury-tested
seafood has helped us to attract customers
and build our business."
Carrying Safe Harbor seafood
has led to an overall increase in sales
for retailers. Holiday Quality Foods,
a Northern California grocery chain of
17 supermarkets, which was the first to
offer the brand, reports considerable
success with it over the past year. “Our
same-store seafood sales have gone up
by 14 percent since we started selling
Safe Harbor seafood," notes
Dave Parrish, Director of Perishables
for Holiday. “Customers tell me
they have peace of mind knowing that we're
testing seafood for mercury."
About
MASI
Micro Analytical Systems,
Inc. (MASI) is the pioneer
of the world's first rapid, large-scale
mercury-testing process for seafood. MASI
currently tests more seafood for mercury
each year than any other company or government
in the world. MASI provides
consumers with seafood tested and certified
to be among the lowest in mercury available
under the Safe Harbor® seal.
Founded in 2002, MASI
is headquartered in San Rafael, Calif.
For more information, visit www.safeharborfoods.com