Contessa’s sustainably raised shrimp is carefully sourced from specific aquatic forests (Photo: Contessa Premium Foods)

Carefully Sourced Sustainable Shrimp

Since 1984, Contessa Premium Foods has produced seafood of consistent quality and value, pioneering a new set of Quality Assurance standards in the industry.

Contessa Premium Foods maintain a zero-tolerance policy for any illegal chemicals or antibiotics used in shrimp aquaculture. This is supported by vigorous self-imposed testing programs that Contessa implemented decades ago at multiple levels of the harvest and production process.

Adding to its seafood line of shrimp, scallops, and calamari, Contessa offers an array of customized gourmet foods

Upon routine inspections of its processing facilities by numerous international third party auditors, Contessa has consistently earned superior scores exceeding the highest industry standards. Years ago, in partnership with the United States FDA equivalents from the Governments of Thailand and Vietnam, the company developed and implemented a food safety and sustainability program to educate shrimp farmers on best practices.

In February 2010, the result of these efforts led Contessa to become the first and only imported farm-raised shrimp supplier recognized as sustainable and a “Good Alternative” by the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch program.

Contessa's lightly battered shrimp with an orange ginger sauce and lightly breaded shrimp with a tropical mango dipping sauce

Contessa’s shrimp are tested at source in Thailand and Vietnam, from raw material to finished product by in-house and internationally accredited third party laboratories. During every part of the production process the company’s overseas Quality Assurance staff ensures all products comply with Contessa’s Food Safety Criteria before release for shipment. Upon arrival into the United States, its local Quality Assurance staff conducts verification tests of random shipments that are audited by local third party laboratories to verify all prior findings are 100 percent accurate.

Contessa's new plant uses advanced design, cutting-edge technology, and innovative processes, significantly reducing environmental impact

About Contessa Premium Foods

Beginning with its first cargo of shrimp, Contessa Premium Foods has been a leader in the seafood industry. Adding to its seafood line of shrimp, scallops, and calamari, Contessa offers an array of customized gourmet foods including convenience meals, hearty homestyle meals, vegetable stir-fries, and specialty seafood items.

Contessa's hand-peeled uncooked shrimp

Always committed to preserving the environment, Contessa built the world’s first “green” LEED certified* frozen-food manufacturing plant, reducing daily energy use and C02 emissions by 65 percent - which is relative to 1990 Kyoto Protocol baseline standards. Combined with their offset credits in alternative energies, their operation is 100 percent carbon neutral.

Receiving many awards for its quality and innovation, Contessa was twice honored in Paris, France with a Gold Medal from the prestigious Salon International de l’ Alimentation — or SIAL –the food industry’s highest honor. Recent recognition in 2009 include Women’s Health Magazine, Examiner.com, and Leigh Ann at Fred Meyer.

Served in fine-dining restaurants and major hotel chains nationwide, Contessa products are available in retail supermarkets, warehouse club stores, and United States military bases.

*Certified by the USGBC’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System (TM).

Margaret E.L.Stacey
Editor Companies and Products
editorial@seafood.media
www.seafood.media

Address:	222 West 6th Street, 8th Floor
City:	San Pedro
State/ZIP:	California (CA 90731)
Country:	United States
Phone:	+1 310 832 8000
Fax:	+1 310 832 8333
E-Mail:	contessa@contessa.com
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