Virginia Mason is the first hospital in the United States to earn Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification for its commitment to serving seafood grown and harvested by certified, environmentally sustainable methods. The hospital serves MSC-certified Alaska cod and Oregon pink shrimp, and plans to include additional species. MSC-certified seafood is regularly served in the hospital’s cafeteria and it is an in-room menu option for hospitalized patients daily.

Virginia Mason also serves locally grown organic produce, local grass-fed beef, antibiotic-free chicken, cage-free eggs and rBGH-free dairy products in its cafeteria, food kiosks and patients’ rooms.

The Marine Stewardship Council, an international non-profit organization working to transform the seafood market to a sustainable basis, maintains a widely accepted certification and eco-labeling program for wild-capture fish. Its fisheries standard is based on three principles: health of the stock; impact on the marine ecosystem; management of the fishery. The MSC Chain of Custody certification awarded Virginia Mason ensures full traceability through the supply chain.