La Selvaggia expelled from Conxemar seafood fair over sexist advertising

La Selvaggia, an Italian seafood company based in Santarcangelo di Romagna, has been immediately and permanently expelled from the Conxemar international seafood fair in Vigo, Spain. The decision followed the distribution of promotional materials and brochures featuring nude women used to advertise clams and other seafood products.

Conxemar organizers condemned the campaign as ‘sexist and degrading,’ stating that the use of women’s images as commercial lures is incompatible with the organization’s principles of equality and dignity. The promotional materials included slogans such as ‘not all clams are equal.’

The Emilia-Romagna regional government expressed full support for the expulsion, describing the content as unacceptable and in direct contrast to policies promoting gender equality. The Italian Ministry of Agriculture also distanced itself from the company, stating it was unaware of the campaign and subsequently excluded La Selvaggia from the Italian Pavilion. While the company defended the project as a form of creative freedom, the fair organizers have maintained their decision to revoke all credentials.