12 June, 2007

FARMED shellfish will be certified organic for the first time ever in the UK and will carry the Soil Association (SA) logo to prove it.

The decision has come after increasing demand by shellfish growers across the country to gain the SA standard as a guarantee to consumers of high quality produce.

Shellfish products such as mussels, scallops, oysters and clams will all carry the familiar logo.

Managing director of Shetland's Blueshell Mussels, Michael Laurenson, said: "Consumers are becoming increasingly aware of the freshness and quality of their food.

"Organic certification can play a big part in reassuring consumers that their food is free of anything artificial.

"Consumers recognise that Scottish shellfish is some of the freshest, most natural food available. Mussels are currently enjoying a boom time with sales up by 20 per cent.

"The Scottish shellfish industry works hard to maintain its high standards and we welcome the Soil Association's development of organic certification for the industry."