Correspondence
Email sent to the director of media and community relations at Bloomin' Brands, owner of Outback Steakhouse, Carrabba's Italian Grill, Bonefish Grill, Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar.
The email described abuses on a jigger owned by Rongcheng Wangdao, including the death of one crew member and disembarkation of a second for medical care after mistreatment on board, and multiple indicators of forced labor among the ship’s crew. It then traced squid from that vessel to the Chishan Group. One of Chishan’s key processing plants, Rongcheng Haibo Seafood Co. Ltd., supplies squid to Lund’s Fisheries, while a second big Chishan Group squid processor, Shandong Haidu Ocean Product Co. Ltd., supplies U.S. importer The Town Dock. Three Chishan Group squid processors supply another US importer, Ruggiero Seafood. In turn, these three US importers all supply Performance Food Service, which supplies Fleming’s, Bonefish Grill, Carrabba’s Italian Grill, and Outback Steakhouse. The email also noted that Chishan vessels were observed fishing in North Korean waters in violation of UN sanctions. It asked if the company had any comment in light of the information discovered in The Outlaw Ocean Project investigation.
Bloomin' Brands replied by email, saying: "We take the issues of human rights issues very seriously. We have confirmed that we have no affiliation with these companies and do not source any product from the brokers you have mentioned in your inquiry."
The Outlaw Ocean Project replied, asking Bloomin’ Brands to clarify if PFG is still one of its seafood suppliers.