Achievement makes LMU the first Catholic Jesuit University in the U.S. to earn the distinction and advance Sodexo’s global commitment to promote MSC certified seafood
Sodexo, the leading provider of Quality of Life Services, today announced achieving Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) Chain of Custody certification for its dining service partner at Loyola Marymount University (LMU). The comprehensive traceability program assures the 7,000 daily LMU customers that their MSC seafood purchases can be traced all the way back through the supply chain to sustainable fisheries.
The focus on certified sustainable seafood is in line with LMU’s strategic plan to promote global citizenship and ethical sustainability, with the recent MSC certification being yet another milestone. “After becoming the first university in California to achieve the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness GREAT Kitchen certification, this further demonstrates our commitment to environmental stewardship.” said Ray Dennis, associate vice president of auxiliary management and business services for Loyola Marymount University.
The MSC certification process was led by Wassim Boustani, director of operations for Sodexo at Loyola Marymount University. It entailed an inspection conducted by a third-party auditor as well as training of frontline staff. MSC’s Chain of Custody Certification ensures that in every step of the chain – from the fisher, to the processor, to the distributor and the end user – MSC-certified seafood is not mixed with or substituted for non-certified seafood. A distinctive MSC blue eco-label is subsequently displayed confirming that the seafood comes from a sustainable fishery that also has been awarded MSC certification.
Sodexo recently rolled out the same certification program at other client locations in the greater Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. They include: National Geographic, National Academy of Sciences, National Aquarium, The Brookings Institution, International Monetary Fund, Gannett, Marriott International, Sodexo Headquarters (Rio Café), Marymount University, The University of Mary Washington and George Mason University. The program in the D.C metro area is expected to reach more than one million consumers, and help Sodexo raise awareness about its North American commitment to seafood sustainability.
“Sodexo’s commitment to seafood sustainability is significant and is helping to transform the global seafood market to a more sustainable basis,” said Kerry Coughlin, regional director for MSC Americas. “By obtaining MSC Chain of Custody certification and displaying the MSC eco-label, Sodexo is assuring consumers the seafood they are purchasing is the seafood identified, comes from a MSC certified sustainable fishery and can be traced from their plate to that fishery.”
Sodexo serves more than 15 million customers daily throughout North America. Its potential for contributing to a more sustainable fishing industry is significant. It specifically calls for the sourcing of sustainable fish and seafood as part of its Better Tomorrow Plan and through its partnership with the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) and Global Aquaculture Alliance’s Best Aquaculture Practices. Sodexo is working with its suppliers and distribution partners to phase out seafood that is not certified by one of these bodies.
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