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White House, Saints Give Gulf Seafood a Boost

By Dan Flynn and Suzanna Schreck

The New Orleans Saints and the Obama administration tried to boost the battered Gulf seafood image yesterday during a ceremony to honor the team's Superbowl victory.

As federal and local waters reopen to fishing, the region's seafood industry is struggling to convince the public that seafood from the region is safe in the wake of the worst domestic oil spill in history.

"With the ongoing reopening of Gulf fisheries, we're excited that fishermen can go back to work and Americans can confidently and safely enjoy Gulf seafood once again," said President Obama in his remarks during the ceremony. "We're certainly going to enjoy it here at the White House."

"In fact, we had some yesterday," added Obama, referring to the Gulf shrimp served at his belated birthday barbeque on the South Lawn Sunday afternoon.

To further assuage fears about oil-tainted seafood, the champion football team served Gulf shrimp to the White House press corps and staff yesterday, an event which reportedly produced a "stampede of journalists."

"After weeks of hearing about food from our response teams down in the Gulf, I can tell you that our staff is excited about the 30-foot po' boy we're serving at lunch today," said Obama.

The President, White House assistant chef Sam Kass and the Saints players all appeared in the press briefing room after the Superbowl ceremony. They handed out bites from skewers of Gulf Coast shrimp and andouille sausage to reporters, Obama Foodorama reported yesterday.

"They are absolutely the best shrimp I've ever had," Kass said. "Incredible."

When asked where in the Gulf the shrimp originated, Kass said he didn't know. "But they have all been tested and cleared," Kass said.

In recent weeks, President Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, and First Lady Michelle Obama have all made public statements assuring the safety of Gulf seafood.

Full post as published by Food Safety News on August 10, 2010 (boomark / email).