Sourced: Inside Ollie’s MSC-certified Salmon

At Ollie, we believe that quality starts at the source. That’s why we thoroughly vet all of our suppliers, from peas to proteins. Ensuring sustainable, ethical practices is fundamental to our mission to provide dogs with the best possible nutrition and lives. Our newest treats, Salmon and Coconut Jerky Strips, feature wild-caught salmon certified by MSC. Read on to learn what this means and why where your pup’s food comes from matters. 

What is MSC certification?

The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) fishery certification is a global standard for sustainable fishing practices. The MSC aims to promote sustainable fishing and ensure that fish stocks are maintained at healthy levels, ecosystems are preserved, and fishing communities thrive.

To earn the MSC’s stamp of approval, fisheries must meet the council’s rigorous sustainability standards, which include:

• Stock Status: Fish populations must be healthy and not overfished.

• Ecosystem Impact: Fishing methods should minimize environmental impacts and protect marine ecosystems.

• Effective Management: Fisheries must be well-managed, with regulations and practices in place to ensure sustainability.

How does the MSC certification process work?

Fisheries seeking certification must go through a multi-step assessment process to be eligible. This process involves a pre-assessment, full assessment, public consultation, and chain of custody. The purpose of these steps is as follows:

1. Pre-assessment: An initial evaluation to determine readiness for full assessment.
2. Full assessment: A comprehensive review conducted by an independent certifier, including stakeholder input.
3. Public consultation: Stakeholders have the opportunity to provide feedback during the assessment.
4. Chain of custody:  After certification, a chain of custody (CoC) certification is required for suppliers, ensuring that MSC-certified products can be traced through the supply chain from the ocean to consumers.

What are the benefits of choosing MSC-certified products?

So, why should you care if the seafood you buy for your dog or yourself is sustainable and MSC-certified? As dog parents, we invest in the health and longevity of our pups. We do this by feeding them high-quality food that supports their unique needs long-term. Similarly, we should invest in the health and longevity of our shared backyard, making daily decisions that help protect and ensure the future of our oceans and other natural resources and the communities that rely on them.  

Look for the label

Only certified fisheries and brands like Ollie, who source from them, can use the MSC eco-label on their products. Many companies may purport they use sustainable practices and products, but this official stamp of approval helps environmentally conscious consumers spot legitimately sustainable seafood in a sea of false claims.

We hope that now when you reach for a bag of Ollie’s Salmon and Coconut Jerky Strips for your pup, you’ll notice the MSC-certified label and see more than just another product claim; instead, see it as a small step in making an impact on our big picture as consumers, dog parents, and earth’s inhabitants.