What’s actually in our Filet-O-Fish® sandwich?

Our Filet-O-Fish® sandwich is very well known and very well loved – did you know it’s our CEO’s favorite sandwich? There are plenty of reasons why it’s so hyped – but we’re especially proud of how we source its ingredients.

Globally, 99% of the fish sourced for Filet-O-Fish sandwiches come from sustainably managed, wild caught fisheries. (We're working to get that number up to 100%!) In the U.S., Filet-O-Fish sandwiches are made with 100% wild-caught Alaska Pollock that’s also always sustainably sourced.

So, what does “sustainably sourced” mean?

We’re so glad you asked. Almost 20 years ago, we began working with partners, like Conservation International, to protect long-term fish supplies and improve the health of surrounding marine ecosystems.

Today, McDonald’s is the first and only global restaurant company to serve Marine Stewardship Council-certified fish at every U.S. restaurant location. We actually display the MSC certification logo for our Filet-o-Fish in the U.S., Canada, Brazil and many of our European markets, where fisheries and restaurants are certified against the MSC Chain of Custody traceability standard.

OK, but what does “fish sustainability” mean?

Well, put simply, sourcing from sustainably managed fisheries means supporting healthy and productive oceans, protecting sensitive habitats and endangered species, and helping safeguard fish populations for this and future generations.

It also means:

1. We know where our fish comes from. All Filet-O-Fish sandwiches in the U.S. are 100%-wild-caught Alaska Pollock from the U.S. waters, namely the Eastern Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands, right off the coast of Alaska. Here’s how that process looks, from a fisherman’s perspective.
2. We’re helping safeguard a sustainable supply of fish for the future. We want to ensure that generations to come will be able to enjoy fish just as we are.
3. We support a fishery that generates zero waste. Every part of the Alaska Pollock that is caught is utilized.
4. We aim to avoid catching non-targeted fish, a practice called “low bycatch.” This is an important aspect of sustainable fishing, and the Alaska Pollock fishery has an annual bycatch rate of <1%.

Why does this matter for our customers and for your Filet-O-Fish?

We know you care about your food and where it comes from, and we are proud to deliver what our customers want and source our fish for the Filet-O-Fish sustainably.

We’re putting in this effort so that future generations can continue to enjoy the Filet-O-Fish… forever.