Trader Joe’s is a grocery store that thrives on selling quality products at low prices. It, therefore, comes as no surprise that they stock tilapia. This fish is one of the most popular fish in the world. Not only is it cheap, but it tastes great. It has no shortage of issues, though. So, is Trader Joe’s tilapia safe to eat?
Trader Joe’s tilapia is safe to eat. You will have to cook it properly just like any other meat product, but Trader Joe’s has gone to huge lengths to ensure that their tilapia products are sourced only from the best places.
Let’s explain.
Understanding Tilapia
Tilapia is a freshwater fish. There are about one hundred different types of tilapia, and they can be found all over the world. They inhabit streams, rivers, and lakes.
We won’t go into the actual names of tilapia, because there are a lot of them, and you never really know which one you are going to get. Tilapia will either be wild-caught or farm-caught, though.
Nowadays, most tilapia will be farm-caught. It is easier to raise the fish there and even easier to catch them.
Although, farm-caught tilapia do have their issues e.g. parasites and the spread of disease. Although, if they are cooked properly, then this shouldn’t pose too much of an issue.
Wild-caught tilapia will be fished from streams, rivers, and lakes. They tend to taste a lot better, but you will rarely find them for sale in stores. They seem to be the sole domain of fishermen who catch the fish just to eat for themselves.
Trader Joe’s Tilapia Product
At the time of writing, Trader Joe’s does not have any tilapia listed on their website. This means that it is unlikely to be found in most of their stores. For Trader Joe’s, it does seem to be a seasonal thing.
Because they currently have no products listed, it is impossible for us to know exactly where their tilapia comes from. It could change from season to season.
It is highly likely that all of their products are farmed, likely in the US. Trader Joe’s would never sell wild-caught tilapia as they wouldn’t be able to get it in huge quantities.
When they do stock tilapia again, you can check the product packaging and it will tell you exactly where it was caught.
Safety Concerns With Tilapia
Tilapia is one of the least healthy of fish. This applies to all types of tilapia. Tilapia is known to increase the risk of heart disease and inflammation in the body. However, there are some things in tilapia that you want to avoid.
Farmed tilapia and wild-caught tilapia have the same problem. They will often be swimming around in areas that have been contaminated with plastics, chemicals, and heavy metals.
All of this gets into the tilapia, and it is going to cause major issues for your health. It isn’t uncommon for there to be small amounts of PVC in tilapia. You won’t be able to taste it, but it is there.
Farm-raised tilapia also have the risk of carrying a bacteria called vibrio. It is a flesh-eating bacteria. There is also the risk of salmonella.
Health Benefits and Nutritional Value of Tilapia
While tilapia certainly isn’t the healthiest fish, it is high in some vitamins and nutrients that can be beneficial to people.
For example, tilapia is loaded with B12 and Omega-3, both are important for a well-functioning human. It is also high in good fats and low in bad ones. Still, not as good as other fish, but it is better than red meat.
You can find all the following in tilapia:
- Niacin
- B12
- Selenium
- Phosphorus
- Potassium
- Vitamin D
- Calcium
- Protein
As long as you eat your tilapia in moderation, then it is a perfectly safe fish to consume.
Consumer Attitudes Towards Tilapia
A lot of people don’t specifically ask for tilapia. While it is one of the most-consumed fish, people don’t go out of their way to buy it.
They only buy it when they want something that is affordable, or just because it is mixed into another fish dish they are consuming.
That being said, a lot of people are knowledgeable about the health benefits that tilapia has. They are less concerned about the risks, although it seems that this applies to all fish.
People only seem to be concerned about the risks when fish are eaten raw, which you would never do with tilapia.
People seem to prefer wild-caught tilapia, but because it is so rare, you won’t see it around all that much.
People don’t know much about the sustainability concerns behind tilapia. Most tilapia will be farmed, which does put a huge strain on the ecosystems and can lead to the spread of disease among the fish. We have yet to reach a critical point, though. Tilapia populations won’t be disappearing any time soon.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Trader Joe’s Frozen Tilapia Good?
If you cook it properly, yes. Tilapia takes on flavor incredibly well, so make sure you use a good sauce.
Where Does Trader Joe’s Fish Come From?
Most of their fish comes from fish farms. It should be listed on their product packaging where they come from. Due to the high price, few of their fish products will be wild-caught.
How Long Is Trader Joe’s Frozen Tilapia Good For?
Frozen tilapia can be stored indefinitely. If it were in your freezer, it could still be edible years from now. That’s assuming that it hasn’t defrosted at any point.
However, after 3-8 months in storage, the quality of the frozen tilapia will go down. Therefore, you are urged to eat as quickly as possible.
Final Thoughts
Tilapia is one of the most popular fish. However, it has concerns. It isn’t as healthy as other fish, and farmed tilapia could be rich in chemicals, diseases, and parasites.
Thankfully, if the tilapia is cooked properly, or bought from reputable sources (including Trader Joe’s), then these risks should be slim.
