US Foods Presents Key Data on Global Seafood Aquaculture

ROSEMONT, IL--(Marketwire - Nov 11, 2011) - US Foods, one of the country's most innovative food companies and distributors, continues its commitment to food safety and sustainability by presenting best practices in seafood certification at the Global Aquaculture Alliance's (GAA) Global Outlook for Aquaculture Leadership 2011 (GOAL) conference.

Jorge Hernandez, senior vice president of food safety and quality assurance, US Foods, and a proponent of Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) certification, served on an international panel of experts discussing the current seafood supply, market trends and risks, and how BAP certification can help mitigate these risks.

"It's our responsibility to offer sustainable product choices to customers who demand the safest, most environmentally responsible foods," Hernandez said. "US Foods was the first broadline food distributor in the United States to offer its customers farm-raised seafood certified as sustainable under the Best Aquaculture Practices certification under its private label. The certification fills an important gap in seafood procurement processes."

The BAP certification was created to promote the safe and sustainable use of emerging scientific technology in aquaculture. By implementing BAP standards, program participants are better able to meet the demands of the growing global market for safe seafood produced in an environmentally and socially responsible manner.

Hernandez also discussed the problem of mislabeled or misrepresented seafood, the use of banned antibiotics and how the aquaculture industry can use the BAP to educate consumers about the safety and sustainability of seafood products.

"Promoting BAP certification provides consumers the education needed to make smart purchasing decisions that ensure the seafood products they consume and serve their families are both safe and eco-friendly," Hernandez said.

GOAL 2011 focuses on providing targeted information on aquaculture production and marketing to industry leaders. Through the development of its certification program, the GAA has become the leading standards-setting organization for aquaculture seafood that promotes effective, coordinated regulatory and trade policies throughout the production chain of farm-raised fish and seafood in countries worldwide.

US Foods' dedication to offering safe, sustainable seafood products is part of the company's ongoing efforts to offer customers products that meet the top quality and safety standards and that are environmentally conscious.

About Jorge Hernandez
Jorge Hernandez is senior vice president, Food Safety and Quality Assurance for US Foods. He is a sanitarian, a certified food safety instructor, a past FDA standardization officer and serves as a board member of the Produce Marketing Association (PMA), GLOBALGAP, Food Safety System Certification 2200, and Advocate Healthcare's Advocate Charitable Foundation. He is also a member of the NRA's Quality Assurance Executives Study Group, the Global Food Safety Initiative's (GFSI) Technical Committee, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Accreditation Committee and the Conference for Food Protection (CFP). Jorge also served as a scientific member of the National Egg Board's Food Safety Advisory Panel and the International HACCP Alliance Board.

About US Foods
With nearly $19 billion in annual revenue, US Foods is the 10th largest private company in America, and a leading foodservice distributor. Many of the entities that make up US Foods were founded in the 19th century, including one that sold provisions to travelers heading west during the 1850s gold rush. US Foods offers more than 350,000 national brand products and its own high-quality "exclusive brand" items, ranging from fresh meats and produce to prepared and frozen foods. The company proudly employs approximately 25,000 people in more than 60 locations nationwide, and provides the finest quality food and related products to more than 250,000 customers, including independent and multi-unit restaurants, healthcare and hospitality entities, government and educational institutions. The company is headquartered in Rosemont, Ill., and jointly owned by funds managed by Clayton, Dubilier & Rice Inc. and Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. Discover more at www.usfoods.com.