At the same times as the British branch of the Whiskas cat food maker has announced grand plans for going sustainable, its US mother company is selling gourmet Whiskas flavoured with bluefin tuna.
“Cats love classic ocean taste. That’s why we’ve crafted this blue fin tuna recipe just for them. It’s an experience that’ll bring on purrs and happy faces”, the company says on its website.
A proposal for an international trade ban in the threatened species, supported by both the US Government and the EU, was defeated at the UN CITES meeting in Doha, Qatar, in March, much to the concern of environmentalist groups all over the world.
Earlier in the month, Mars Petcare announced in Britain that it was now committed globally to using only sustainably sourced fish across the Whiskas and Sheba brand ranges by 2020. By the end of this year, the eco-label denoting Marine Stewardship Council certification would appear on packs.
“As Europe’s largest petcare business we consider that we are in a position to effect real change where governments and regulators acting along may not be able to”, the company’s managing director said in a proud letter to conservation groups.
Meanwhile, Mars Petcare US, released a statement saying that ““Sustainability is a journey and we’ve worked quickly to identify a viable and sustainable replacement for WHISKAS® Blue Fin Tuna Flavor in Sauce®. We’re pleased to announce today that we’re removing Blue Fin Tuna from the WHISKAS® line up and offering cats and cat lovers a more sustainable WHISKAS® variety made with real Pacific albacore tuna.”
As of mid-April, however, the “Blue Fin Tuna Flavor in MeatyJuices” was still highlighted among the “NEW Entrées in Delicous Flavors” on Whiskas’ American website.