Shrimp are among the most popular seafood choices worldwide. However, many people are unaware of how these animals are farmed for food and the challenges that can arise in the process. At Lidl, we provide insight into these practices and work closely with our standard-setting partners to define measurable actions aimed at improving animal welfare in farmed shrimp production.
When it comes to fish and seafood, we have set a clear target across all Lidl countries: 100% of our permanent assortment and at least 50% of our promotional items must be certified according to recognized standards (MSC, ASC, GLOBALG.A.P., BAP 4-star, or organic).
We have already made significant progress toward this goal across all countries, currently achieving approximately 90% compliance in our permanent range and over 60% for promotional items. This, of course, includes our shrimp products. Through these strict requirements, we contractually guarantee compliance with binding environmental regulations and ensure that minimum social standards for local workers are independently verified.
Together with our partners and standard-setting organizations, we are continually taking the next steps to systematically advance animal welfare in shrimp farming through a targeted, science-based approach.
Since January 2026, eyestalk ablation has been completely eliminated from 100 percent of the farmed shrimp supply chains within our internationally negotiated permanent private-label assortment. This and similar practices used to alter reproduction or increase egg production do not align with our definition of animal welfare. The aquaculture certifications we accept (EU Organic, ASC, GLOBALG.A.P., and BAP 4-Star) either already prohibit this practice or require it to be phased out by 2031 at the latest. By aligning with these standards, we are committing to a decisive and rigorous transition.
