A Rumored Brand Behind Filet-O-Fish Patties Is Hiding In Costco's Frozen Aisle (But Many Fans Are Disappointed)

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McDonald's Filet-O-Fish has been a fixture on menus since 1965, offering hungry customers an alternative to burgers. McDonald's has been adamant that the fish used in the sandwich is both sustainably sourced and carries Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification. McDonald's sources ingredients from suppliers that follow corporate guidelines, with American-caught pollock helping build Filet-O-Fish sandwiches made stateside. One name linked to the MSC-certified American pollock supply is Seattle-based Trident Seafoods — a brand that's found on Costco shelves, but isn't always praised by customers.

Some McDonald's advertisements have featured Trident's wild-caught Alaskan pollock, and founder Chuck Bundrant has been reported to have built a profitable business supplying fish to companies like McDonald's, Long John Silver's, Walmart, Safeway, and Costco. Trident Seafoods has been labeled North America's largest vertically integrated seafood harvesting and processing company, and the American-owned operation serves customers in nearly 60 countries. Trident's distribution scale and retail pipeline means that the company connected to the iconic McDonald's menu item can also be found in Costco. Reviews of Trident Seafoods' Wild Alaskan Beer Battered Cod are mixed, however, with the frozen product drawing a range of not-so-positive comments from shoppers. 

Reviews run the gamut, with complaining customers describing a breading that doesn't crisp, even with extended cooking time. One shopper on the Costco website called it "the worst thing I've ever purchased," while another noted both an unappealing smell and a texture far that was from flaky.

Packages of Trident Seafoods' Wild Alaskan Beer Battered Cod are labeled with a CSI-Certified Alaska designation and are sold for under $26 at Costco — they come with about 13 pieces of fish. Transparency and pricing aren't enough to convince some customers, though. "These are the worst beer battered fish fillets my family and I have ever ate!" wrote one member on Costco's site. 

Other Costco shoppers have wondered if something has changed in the recipe, as recent purchases were noted to be oddly chewy. One customer reported that the fish was simply inedible and that the combination of chemical smell and a rubbery texture akin to raw chicken prompted them to feed it to backyard wildlife instead of taking a chance and eating it themselves. With reviews like this, it is no wonder the fish tied to a McDonald's sandwich that nearly ranked dead last in our taste test could be from the same brand receiving poor shopper reviews.

Not every comment on Costco's site is scathing. Some shoppers have been vocal about repeated purchases where the battered fish crunches after baking and leads to a delicious meal,  though the negative reviews are enough to warrant consideration before purchasing. When buying store-bought frozen fillets to make beer-battered fish sandwiches at home, quality of ingredients shouldn't require a rolling of the dice.