The Outlaw Ocean Project

The Outlaw Ocean Project

We’re contacting you in light of our latest investigation which concerns the use of forced labor in China’s food processing industry, and a link we’ve discovered between a company engaged in such practices and your supply chain – Donggang Haimeng Foodstuff. According to our research, Canadian Fish Exporters supplies pollock under its ‘Buena Ventura’ brand to H-E-B. Trade data seen by The Outlaw Ocean Project shows that Canadian Fish Exporters was the consignee for over 100 shipments of pollock from a Chinese company called Dandong Haimeng since 2019. We have uncovered evidence that Dandong Hai…

H-E-B

Thank you for your email. We have confirmed with our merchant team that we do not have these products and have nothing linked to the plants mentioned.

The Outlaw Ocean Project

Thank you very much for your email and for verifying that H-E-B no longer stocks any products linked to the plant in question. We do have some additional questions arising from your statement: 1. We saw Buena Ventura Salted Pollock on H-E-B’s website in mid-November. Could you clarify when you ceased selling this product? And why? 2. Can you clarify how H-E-B is able to verify that it does not stock any seafood products sourced from Donggang Haimeng? 3. What processes does H-E-B have in place to conduct supply chain traceability and tracing of seafood products from its primary suppliers?

The Outlaw Ocean Project

As we hadn't heard back from you on this, we wanted to check in on these outstanding questions. To clarify: The supply company in question is called Donggang Haimeng Foodstuff, based in Dandong City, Liaoning, China.