Seafood Nutrition Partnership launches

A nonprofit organization formed to address seafood deficiency in Americans’ diets and to build awareness of the health and nutritional benefits of seafood is taking shape with a new name: Seafood Nutrition Partnership (SNP).

The organization’s mission is to inspire a healthier America through partnerships that raise awareness about the essential nutritional benefits of eating seafood. The coalition, originally named Seafood Foundation, is based in Washington, D.C.

Linda Cornish, the organization’s executive director, says a “strategic visioning session” with industry partners looked at everything from the group’s name to its science-based message.

“The group felt it was critical that from the moniker to the mission statement we reflect the focus on working through collaborative partnerships going forward,” said Cornish. “It will take more than one voice to let people know that there is overwhelming scientific evidence about the health benefits of seafood. The number one killer of Americans remains heart disease and seafood can be a part of the solution in fighting this public health epidemic.”

The SNP focus group included leaders from the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute, Barbara Streisand Foundation, Barbara Streisand Women’s Heart Center at Cedars-Sinai, BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, Bumble BeeFoods, Gorton’s, High Liner  Foods, Rich Products, the National Fisheries Institute and Trident Seafoods.

“It’s an important message and Linda is an exceptional leader adept at building partnerships, and this group is fortunate to have such a driving force in communicating the essential nutritional benefits of eating seafood,” said Calvin Anderson, senior VP-corporate affairs and executive director of BlueCross’ Tennessee Health Foundation and Community Trust.

Click here for more on Linda Cornish in the SeaFood Business NetWorking interview from December 2012.

Development funding was provided by AGR Partners, Alaska Bering Sea Crabbers, American Pride Seafoods, Bumble Bee Foods, Censea, Chicken of the Sea International, Clear Springs Foods, Darden Restaurants, Eastern Fish Co., Fortune Fish Co., Global Aquaculture Alliance, Gorton’s, Harbor Seafood, High Liner Foods, Ipswich Shellfish Co., Mazzetta Co., Morey’s Seafood, Motivatit Seafoods, National Fisheries Institute, Orca Bay Seafoods, Pacific Andes, Preferred Freezer Services, ProFish International, Rich Products Corp., SeaPort Products Corp., Seabreeze Seafoods International, Seafood Exchange of Florida, Seattle Fish Co., Slade Gorton & Co., Tampa Maid Foods and Trident Seafoods Corp.