Trident Seafoods FAQ

A cousin to cod, Wild Alaska Pollock is one of the most-consumed fish in the U.S. It is a mild-flavored white fish with a soft, delicate and flaky texture when cooked. Also known as the Walleye Pollock, it differs from the larger, oilier Atlantic pollock, which is actually a different species.

Yes, because Wild Alaska Pollock is rated low for levels of mercury, it is a safe and healthy choice for pregnant women. The FDA lists Wild Alaska Pollock as one of the best fish choices for pregnant women, with recommended consumption of 2-3 servings each week.

Yes, all U.S.-caught Wild Alaska Pollock is sustainably managed and harvested under strict U.S. regulations. We require any product passing under Trident ownership to comply with fisheries and trade regulations that discourage illegal harvest conduct or fraudulent supply chain activity. We’re committed to helping maintain safe and sustainable fisheries and seafood across all of our products.

Mid-level trawlers catch all of our Wild Alaska Pollock off the shores of Alaska in the northern Pacific Ocean. Our fleet of state-of-the-art fishing vessels ensures that every fish is caught, prepared, and frozen right onboard, within minutes of capture.

When fully cooked, Wild Alaska Pollock has a mild flavor and soft texture. Its taste and texture are similar to cod, but more delicate—perfect for pairing with light sauces and your favorite herbs and spices.

Wild Alaska Pollock is a very versatile fish! Depending on the product you purchase, you can enjoy it in various ways. If you’re preparing Wild Alaska Pollock Fillets, we recommend cooking from frozen with your preferred methods such as pan-fry, conventional oven, grill, or barbeque. The following are general cooking recommendations for Wild Alaska Pollock Fillets (individual products may reflect cooking variations):

• Pan-fry: Preheat a nonstick pan to medium-high, add a thin layer of oil, and fry for about 5 minutes on each side.

• Conventional oven: Preheat oven to 425°F, place fillets on a lightly greased baking sheet, and top with your favorite sauce or seasonings. Bake fillets for 13 to 16 minutes, or until fully cooked.

• Grill or Barbeque: Preheat the grill to medium-high heat (375°F), spray fillets with oil, place on the grill, and cook for about 5 minutes on each side.

• Indoor Grill: Preheat the grill to high heat (400°F), spray fillets with oil, place on the grill, and cook for about 5 minutes on each side.

Only Genuine Wild Alaska Pollock products are quickly processed and frozen within hours of the catch, either aboard the vessel or in nearby land-based facilities. Other non-Alaska Pollock products are typically frozen once at sea, then thawed and processed later and frozen a second time, which creates water loss and can negatively affect the taste and texture of the finished product. Learn more about what defines Genuine Wild Alaska Pollock.

Imitation crab meat is made from a seafood paste called “surimi” and mixed with portions of real crab meat. Surimi has been a part of Asian cuisine for over 900 years and is now enjoyed in cuisines all over the world. Because of the negative association with the word “imitation”, people often assume surimi is a fake meat product full of chemicals and preservatives. However, Louis Kemp surimi is made from whole meat Wild Alaska Pollock, freshly harvested off the shores of Alaska.

Similar to our imitation crab, imitation lobster is made from surimi and mixed with portions of real lobster meat.

We do not recommend freezing imitation crab or any other Louis Kemp products. Surimi seafood, including imitation crab and imitation lobster, should be stored in the refrigerator at a temperature between 32°F and 38°F. If the product is left out at room temperature for more than two hours, it must be discarded.

Surimi seafood is fully cooked and ready to eat right from the package. Because it is already cooked, products like imitation crab and imitation lobster only need to be heated through when added to dishes such as stir-fries, soups, and casseroles. We do not recommend microwave reheating because it may produce undesired textural changes.

Please consume your Louis Kemp surimi, imitation crab, or imitation lobster before the “use-by” date printed on the package. The use-by date is valid as long as the product is in its original packaging and unopened. Products that are past date should be discarded. Once opened, the product should be enjoyed within 3 days.

Since Louis Kemp imitation crab is made with Wild Alaska Pollock, it enjoys many of the same health benefits as Wild Alaska Pollock—it’s low calorie, low fat, low cholesterol, and contains around 7g of protein and 150mg of Omega 3’s per serving (depending on the exact product). Most Louis Kemp products are also gluten-free.

Imitation crab is usually safe for pregnant women to consume; however, we recommend consulting your doctor before including it in your diet during pregnancy. All Louis Kemp imitation crab, imitation lobster, and surimi products are fully cooked and made with Wild Alaska Pollock, a low-mercury fish recommended for pregnant women by the FDA.

Most of our imitation seafood products contain some real shellfish, and all are made on shared equipment. While we take rigorous precautions to prevent any risk of cross-contamination, we do not recommend these products be consumed by those individuals with shellfish allergies or sensitivity.

Your health and safety are of utmost importance to us, and we recognize the consequences some consumers may encounter due to undeclared allergens in food products. We fully comply with current federal laws governing the labeling of food allergens, so you can rest assured that our product labels communicate the presence of the following major food allergens: crustacean shellfish (crab, crayfish, lobster, and shrimp), eggs, fish, milk, peanuts, soy, tree nuts, and wheat. When these allergens are present in our products, you will find a parenthetical listing of the allergen immediately following the ingredient's common name, along with a ‘contains’ statement listing the allergen immediately following the ingredient statement. If you have any concerns about an allergy or sensitivity to an ingredient that is not listed above, please see our Contact Us page for info on how to reach us and we will confirm if the ingredient is used in our products. Because product formulas are occasionally revised, it is important to review the ingredient statement before purchasing.

If you are trying our fish oil food toppers for the first time, there are a few feeding suggestions for use based on your pets’ body weight. We suggest only supplementing your dogs’/cats’ food with our fish oils once per day a few times per week. These pet supplements are intended for intermittent feeding only. Slow introduction of fish oil into your pets’ diet is best, using less fish oil than suggested in the beginning, along with consulting your pets’ veterinarian.

Treats can be used for training your dog. Break treats into small pieces prior to feeding your furry friend. Keep in mind that treats should not exceed 10% of your dog’s total calorie intake. These treats are intended for intermittent feeding only.

Trident Seafoods uses two types of expiration dates on its products: Best By and Use By.

• BEST BY date is an advisory date and refers to the timeframe we believe the quality of the product will be at its best. As long as the product has been stored properly, it will remain safe to eat but may lose flavor and/or texture once it passes this date.

• USE BY date is a food safety date and refers to the time in which the product must be consumed.

Almost all our retail products are made using wild-caught seafood. In the very rare cases where we purchase farmed seafood, for example tilapia, we make this clear on our packaging.

What you are likely seeing are naturally occurring crystals called magnesium ammonium phosphate. If consumed, the crystals are completely safe; they are easily digested and absorbed by the body as simply as the mineral matter of any food. While the occurrence is moderately common in canned seafood, it is relatively rare that crystals of a large enough size to be noticed are formed.

FDA requires that foods containing MSG (monosodium glutamate) list it in the ingredient panel on the packaging as monosodium glutamate. While we do not add MSG to our retail products, some items such as yeast extract and soy extract may contain naturally occurring monosodium glutamate. Because we are aware that these ingredients are of interest to some consumers, we clearly list them in the ingredient statement when they are included.

We are aware of the concerns of some consumers surrounding the use of Bisphenol A (BPA). We do not use epoxy-based materials (the cause for potential Bisphenol A generation) in any of our packaging.

Trident Seafoods products are available across the country! Use our Store Locator to find Trident Seafoods products near you. You can also filter for specific products to see if your local store carries exactly what you’re looking for.

It depends on the product you purchased:

• FROZEN ITEMS: During production, there is a processing step where the product is sprayed (or quickly dunked) with a light coating of very hot cooking oil. This makes the product “oven friendly”, but it is not a fully cooked item and should be treated as a raw product.

• CANNED ITEMS: Our canned salmon is fully cooked and completely edible, right out of the can.

• SMOKED ITEMS: Our smoked salmon products are ready to eat right out of the package. Our Hot Smoked and Retort Smoked (shelf-stable) products are fully cooked. While cold-smoked salmon is ‘ready to eat’, it is not fully cooked.

Send us an email at sales@tridentseafoods.com and we’ll help you find the right products for your menu. Browse options, recipes and promotions in the Food Service section of our website.

Here is a selection of some of our most frequently requested policies and commitments.

• Global Bribery and Corruption Prevention Policy

• Global Environmental Policy

• Global Food Safety and Quality Assurance (FSQA) Policy

• Global Workplace Health and Safety Policy

• Global Human Rights Policy

• Global Supplier Code of Conduct Policy

• Trident Commitment to Responsible Marketing

• Global Anti-Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation Policy

Visit our contact form options, email us at ConsumerAffairs@TridentSeafoods.com, or give us a call at one of these three toll-free numbers.

• Food Product Inquiries: 1-866-413-4749

• Dietary Supplement Product Inquiries: 1-855-844-4367

• Pet Product Inquiries: 1-833-908-0901