PETA Rushes Vegan ‘Fish’ to Mandarin Oriental Following Reports of Food Poisoning

Group Urges Luxury Hotel to Replace Seafood With Safe, Sustainable Vegan Alternatives

 Hong Kong — In response to reports that eight diners experienced suspected food poisoning allegedly linked to fish served at the Mandarin Oriental’s buffet, PETA has rushed a complimentary shipment of premium vegan “fish” products to the hotel, encouraging management to replace animal-derived seafood with delicious, cruelty-free alternatives.

The package includes innovative vegan salmon, chef-ready plant-based fish fillets and seafood-style products, including vegan oysters and shrimp, designed to replicate the taste and texture of fish—without the risk of parasites, mercury, microplastics, or foodborne pathogens that are commonly associated with seafood products.

More fish are killed for food each year than all other animals combined. They’re impaled, crushed, suffocated, or cut open and gutted—often while they’re conscious. Millions of whales, sharks, turtles, and other “nontarget” animals are also unintentionally killed every year to satisfy humans’ demand for “seafood”.

“Fish are sentient animals who experience terror and pain, yet they’re treated as menu items—an outdated practice that harms animals and carries inherent food-safety,” said PETA President Jason Baker. “With innovative vegan seafood now widely available, there’s no reason for the Mandarin Oriental or any luxury hotel to gamble with guests’ health or contribute to animal suffering. Today’s guests expect world-class cuisine, but they also expect safety, sustainability, and compassion. Vegan fish delivers all three.”

Food safety authorities around the world routinely warn consumers about contamination risks tied to seafood products. Research has proven that farmed fish can contain antibiotic residues that promote antimicrobial resistance, while wild-caught fish are often contaminated with microplastics and other toxins. Choosing vegan seafood avoids these risks while also sparing marine life and reducing the environmental damage associated with overfishing and ocean pollution.

PETA stands ready to assist the Mandarin Oriental’s culinary team with sourcing recommendations and menu transition support.

PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to eat”—points out that Every Animal Is Someone. For more information, please visit PETAAsia.com or follow PETA on X, Facebook, or Instagram.

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