November 20, 2024 – While seafood is a good source of healthy animal protein, not all types are created equal—among them, shellfish are some of the most nutritious and environmentally sustainable, according to experts.

In a Nov. 16 New York Times article, experts including Christopher Golden, associate professor of nutrition and planetary health at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, explained that shellfish are packed with nutrients and generally free of contaminants like mercury. Golden said that mussels are the most nutritious—containing vitamin B12, omega 3 fatty acids, zinc, and iron—followed by oysters, and then clams and scallops.

Shellfish are also healthy for the planet, since around 90% are farmed. “If you look at a global scale, shellfish are the most sustainably produced type of seafood,” Golden said.

Read the New York Times article: Are Shellfish Good for You?

– Jay Lau

Photo: iStock/Towasit Kongton