Food Alliance

Shellfish Producers

Food Alliance shellfish certification criteria apply to all North American shellfish production systems that produce shellfish from seed to harvest within a defined area and with clear ownership of the shellfish being cultured. It applies to shellfish farms that produce the following:

• Oysters
• Clams
• Mussels
• Geoducks

*The standard does not cover wild harvest. 

Certification

To become Food Alliance Certified and market shellfish products with Food Alliance’s certification seal, an operation must:

1. Comply with all fixed criteria for Food Alliance Certified shellfish
2. Score an average of 3.0 out of 4 overall in each of the six scored criteria areas.

FIXED CRITERIA FOR FOOD ALLIANCE CERTIFIED SHELLFISH:

• No GMO breeds are used, no cloned animals are used. (Triploid animals are not considered GMO, as no genes are introduced.)
• No prohibited pesticides are used.
• No growth-promoting hormones or other growth promotants are used.
• No antibiotics are used.
• Shellfish intended for further grow-out, hardening or relay may be moved from one farm to another if both operations are Food Alliance certified.

SCORED CRITERIA:

1. Fish and Wildlife Habitat Conservation
2. Healthy and Humane Care for Shellstock
3. Shared Resource Management
4. Soil and Water Conservation
5. Reducing Pesticide Usage
6. Safe and Fair Working Conditions