Hillman Debuts Seal Of Freshness
Seal To Guarantee Safer, Fresher Seafood

Hillman, the renowned seafood company made famous for pioneering the advanced Post Harvest Process (PHP), cryogenically freezing oysters for the food service and retail industries to allow for safer, superior seafood products, recently launched a new “seal of freshness,” guaranteeing a safer, fresher seafood product for chefs, consumers and retailers.

Soon to appear on all product packaging, the new seal of freshness assures the product has received the innovative Post Harvest Process (PHP), reducing Vibrio vulnificus to non-detectable levels in accordance with FDA standards.

“Safer management of microorganisms offers great peace of mind for Hillman customers,” said Steve Hillman, vice president of Hillman. “The seal of freshness will reinforce our commitment to offering the safest, freshest and tastiest half-shell oyster product on the market.”

Hillman’s unique Individually Quick Frozen (IQF) process uses extremely cold temperatures to freeze oysters extremely quickly. Hillman introduced this technology to oyster processing more than a decade ago because it provides an entirely new, convenient and safer way to handle oysters for the food service industry, all within the long-established traditions of this high value menu item.

Traditional, or "slow" freezing, forms large crystals in oysters, rupturing cell walls and leaving them mushy and drained of moisture when defrosted. Through Hillman’s original IQF process, extremely small crystals form, leaving the oyster texture firm and tasty when defrosted. Waste and spoilage, once a part of traditional oyster service, become a thing of the past.

Catering tochefs, food service operations and retail grocers throughout the world since 1978, Hillman Oyster Co. harvests, IQF (Individually Quickly Frozen) processes and ships safer, “freshly- frozen,” value-added oysters on the half shell, prime oyster meats, breaded oysters, IQF scallops on the half shell and clams every day.