Bob Brown Foundation welcomes the announcement by Blooms the Chemist that it is pausing the purchase of krill oil products but urges Blooms to permanently remove krill oil from its shelves.

Global momentum against krill fishing and krill oil is growing. Last week, Australia’s two major supermarkets, Coles and Woolworths, announced they are no longer stocking krill oil. Meanwhile overseas, major chemist chains like DM, Holland & Barrett, and most recently Müller in Germany, have announced they will no longer stock krill oil.

“Blooms the Chemist could become the first chemist chain in Australia to stop taking part in Antarctica’s destruction and become an Antarctic protector instead. Australians everywhere will celebrate them for it if they make the right decision,” said Alistair Allan, Antarctic and Marine campaigner at Bob Brown Foundation.

“Antarctica should be completely protected, and public outrage that supertrawlers are plundering the food of penguins and whales to make krill oil is growing globally. Blooms will become the ‘go-to ‘ chemist for people who care about Antarctica and its wildlife, and they will leave other chemist chains in the dust,” said Alistair Allan.