Sushi and sustainability

What is sushi?

Sushi is a Japanese dish that typically consists of vinegar rice, often and topped with various ingredients. They often include raw or cooked seafood, but there are variations with other ingredients like egg and vegetables. The ingredients are often wrapped in dried seaweed, cut, and served in bite-sized portions. Sushi is commonly associated with Japanese cuisine, and has become popular worldwide with many different styles. Sushi is often served with soy sauce, wasabi, and pickled ginger, and can be enjoyed as a snack, a meal, or a special occasion dish. The art of sushi-making has a long and rich history, and is considered a highly skilled culinary art form. Even among the population, it is a beloved part of Japan’s food culture.

Sushi’s link to food waste and climate crisis

But why are we talking about sushi on a site about sustainability? Sushi is a definitive part of Japan’s food culture, the same food culture that has brought awareness of food waste and food loss in Japan. Another reason is because the climate crisis threatens sushi culture in many ways:

Availability of seafood: Rising ocean temperatures and acidification alters the distribution and abundance of fish populations, making it harder to find certain types of seafood that are commonly used in sushi.

Quality of seafood: Changes in ocean temperatures can also affect the quality of seafood, potentially leading to more instances of spoilage and a decline in flavor.

Price: The price of sushi is likely to increase when the availability of certain types of seafood declines.

Food safety: As ocean temperatures rise, the risk of foodborne illnesses associated with seafood may increase, as certain bacteria thrive in warmer water, like Vibrio.

Articles about sushi and sustainability in Japan

“The Last Day of Sushi” campaign

“Last possible day to eat salmon sushi is 17 December 2049. Last possible day to eat scallops sushi is 31 August 2068.” Ginza Kyubey, a renowned sushi restaurant in Tokyo, launched this “The Last Day of Sushi” campaign to raise awareness of the threat of global warming on Japan’s sushi culture.

Preventing wasted sushi rolls during Setsubun

Rather similar to sushi is the ehoumaki, a sushi roll that most Japanese eat during the Setsubun festival in Japan. Because of the increased awareness of food waste in Japan, food waste from ehoumaki from the festival is being tackled too. Find out some of the solutions here.