Hooked on … Mussels
Mussels
600 Million mussels are produced in the UK every year.
They are the ultimate fast food and great value for money. Mussels are usually purchased ‘live in the shell’. The most popular way to serve them in the UK is as ‘moules mariniere’ or ‘moules and frites. They are also available pre-cooked and processed in a range of sauces.
Nutritional information
Mussels are rich in Omega-3, Vitamin B12, Selenium and Iodine. They are a good source of Iron, Folic Acid, Zinc & Vitamin B2. They are also high in protein and low in fat.
Did you know that mussels contain over nine times more B12 than beef, and nearly five times more than salmon. Vitamin B is important for the normally functioning of your brain and nervous system and plays a key role in the formation of red blood cells.
Fishing methods
Mussels can be harvested from either wild or cultivated stocks. They can be cultivated either on the seabed or on ropes. The majority of what we eat is cultivated. One such method is rope-grown. A rope is dangled into the sea and the spat of these little creatures settles naturally onto the rope and when they are ready for harvesting you just pull up the rope.
Seasonality
Mussels are available all year round, but the best quality is from October through to March.
Sustainability
Because the majority of mussels are cultivated, they are one of the most sustainable seafood available in the UK.
