Seafood is widely considered one of the healthiest sources of protein available. Compared to other meats such as chicken, pork, or beef, however, it’s also one of the most expensive.
In U.S. grocery stores, fish prices are often above $10 per pound, whereas beef and chicken can cost around $9 and $4 per pound, respectively.
So when an Aldi shopper spotted a whole frozen lobster, typically one of the pricier seafood items, on the shelf for under $15, he decided to give it a try. One detail on the packaging, however, surprised him.
What Did He Notice On The Label?
In a viral video that has garnered over 5.4 million views, TikTok creator @by_the_water films the Aldi freezer stocked with whole frozen lobsters.
“Today, when I went to Aldi, I noticed they had frozen whole lobsters for only $11.99 per lobster, so I knew I had to get one,” he says.
He guesses Aldi stocked them for Valentine’s Day, since lobster is a common “special occasion” dinner.
Once home, he takes a closer look at the packaging, saying he doesn’t recognize the brand name, Seamazz. “[It] isn’t really too uncommon at Aldi,” he explains. “Because it’s all off-brand or store-brand stuff.”
For context, Mazzetta, the company behind the Seamazz label, is a U.S.-based seafood supplier that has operated since 1987.
He then notes the lobster is labeled as wild-caught in Canada. But what makes him pause is the nutrition panel.
“There’s only three ounces of meat within this one-pound lobster,” he says. “Which is pretty crazy to me.”
That would mean roughly four-fifths of the lobster’s total weight is shell, he explains.
Still, he moves forward with the test. After opening the package, he says there’s no unpleasant smell or any other red flags and puts it in the fridge to thaw.
In part two of his review, he steams the thawed lobster according to the instructions on the packaging, then removes the meat and weighs it himself.
It came out to 4.8 ounces.
@by_the_water describes the texture as slightly chewy but says, overall, he thought the lobster was good quality.
Commenters Think It’s A Bad Deal
“Red flag 1: Frozen… red flag 2: Frozen FOR $11.99,” wrote one commenter.
Another wasn’t convinced it was fresh. “That lobster died 40 years ago,” they wrote.
“Yall know you can get a fresh lobster from the grocery store for under $20, right?,” asked a third.
Is It Pricey For Wild-Caught Lobster?
Although prices vary depending on freshness and origin, it’s common to pay around $12 to $15 per pound for whole lobster in the U.S.
That price includes the shell and other inedible parts, meaning you still have to separate the meat yourself.
If you buy lobster meat on its own, however, the cost rises notably. Maine Lobster Now, for example, lists fresh lobster meat at $59.99 per half pound and $90.19 per pound for frozen meat.
This means @by_the_water may have gotten a solid deal. At $11.99 per pound for a whole lobster that yielded 4.8 ounces of meat, the price works out to roughly $39.97 per pound of usable meat.
@by_the_water
BroBible has reached out to @by_the_water, Aldi, and Mazzetta via email for comment.