The Southern Shrimp Alliance (SSA) is taking aggressive action to address deceptive marketing of farm-raised imported shrimp as Gulf shrimp. After working with FTC on new restaurant guidance regarding false advertising of seafood, SSA is funding cutting-edge genetic testing of shrimp served at a random selection of restaurants across the Gulf Coast and South Atlantic through SeaD Consulting. The findings reveal a pervasive problem of false advertising, seafood substitution, and economic fraud, further underscoring the need for stronger laws at both the state and federal levels to prevent consumer deception. Here are state-by-state actions being taken to enhance shrimp or seafood labeling at restaurants.
2024 Alabama labeling law
Alabama Seafood Law (Act #2024-339HB 66) was signed into law May 2024, requiring all Alabama food establishments, from grocery stores to restaurants, to label whether any seafood being served is imported or domestically produced. Establishments must also disclose whether the seafood was farm-raised or wild-caught.
Alabama restaurant test results pending. Stay tuned.
51st Annual
National Shrimp Festival
Gulf Shores, Alabama
Out of five shrimp dishes sampled at the festival, only one contained authentic Gulf wild-caught shrimp, provided by Rouses grocery store.
No seafood labeling law or pending legislation.
Florida has state law regarding labeling for produce and honey, but nothing specific to shrimp.
However, the state also has the most significant findings of falsely advertised shrimp, coastal communities that depend on shrimp, and tourists that seek local seafood.
Tampa and St. Petersburg
96% (42 of 44)
of sampled seafood restaurants gave the impression of U.S. wild-caught shrimp while serving imported farm-raised shrimp by market.
Proposed Georgia labeling bill
In February, the Georgia House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed bipartisan House Bill 117 by a vote of 165 to 7 which would require all commercial food service establishments in Georgia to clearly inform customers when imported shrimp is used, either by displaying a placard that says “Foreign Imported Shrimp” or labeling each menu item containing shrimp with “Foreign Imported.” The bill has since been revised in the Senate to also require restaurants to disclose whether they are serving imported beef or chicken as well as shrimp.
Savannah
77%
(34 of 44)
of sampled seafood restaurants gave the impression of U.S. wild-caught shrimp while serving imported farm-raised shrimp by market.
2025 Louisiana labeling law
Louisiana has required restaurants to disclose the origin of shrimp longer than any other state, which may explain why recent testing shows significantly lower rates of false labeling at Louisiana restaurants compared to states that lack labeling laws.
Louisiana first adopted a seafood disclosure law in 2008 which stated, “No owner or manager of a restaurant that sells imported crawfish or shrimp shall misrepresent to the public, either verbally, on a menu, or on signs displayed on the premises, that the crawfish or shrimp is domestic.”
The law was amended most recently in 2025 to make it stronger. As of January 1, 2025, food establishments will have to state explicitly if their seafood is from the U.S. or another country. Further, proprietors serving foreign seafood must include an additional disclaimer that states: “Some items served at this establishment may contain imported seafood. Ask for more information.”
The new law also enhances enforcement. The state health department is responsible for enforcing the menu law and can issue fines. It will also create a mechanism to allow the public to report suspected violations.
The law also prohibits the use of misleading packaging or marketing that uses Louisiana-related images, phrases, colors or styles for any foreign seafood products that are not produced or caught in Louisiana. This is consistent with FTC restaurant guidance.
Baton Rouge
29%
(7 of 24)
of sampled seafood restaurants gave the impression of U.S. wild-caught shrimp while serving imported farm-raised shrimp by market.
Lafayette
33%
(8 of 24)
of sampled seafood restaurants gave the impression of U.S. wild-caught shrimp while serving imported farm-raised shrimp by market.
New Orleans
13%
(3 of 24)
of sampled seafood restaurants gave the impression of U.S. wild-caught shrimp while serving imported farm-raised shrimp by market.
Shreveport
58%
(14 of 24)
of sampled seafood restaurants gave the impression of U.S. wild-caught shrimp while serving imported farm-raised shrimp by market.
89th Annual
Louisiana Shrimp & Petroleum Festival
Morgan City, Louisiana
Out of five shrimp dishes sampled at the festival, only one contained authentic Gulf wild-caught shrimp, provided by Woodreaux’s Cajun Cuisine.
Proposed Mississippi labeling law
Current law mandates processors, wholesalers, and food service establishments to transparently inform consumers whether the shrimp and crawfish being sold are local or from a foreign body of water.
The originally proposed bill requires the country of origin of all seafood items to be advertised on menus, labels, etc. “clearly and prominently.”
The bill now creates a Mississippi Seafood Labeling Task Force to address seafood labeling laws, genetic testing, and marketing strategies to promote locally sourced seafood in a report before Jan. 1, 2027.
Biloxi
81% (36 of 44)
of sampled seafood restaurants gave the impression of U.S. wild-caught shrimp while serving imported farm-raised shrimp by market.
No labeling law or pending legislation.
Test results pending. Stay tuned.
No labeling law or pending legislation.
Test results pending. Stay tuned.
Proposed Texas labeling bills
• HB 735 – Requires clear labeling of meat, poultry, shrimp, and related food products
• HB 749 – Requires food service establishments to disclose imported shrimp on menus or signage
• HB 2343 – Modeled after Louisiana law, it requires labeling and notice for imported shrimp and bans state agencies from purchasing foreign-raised shrimp
Galveston and Kemah, TX
59% (26 of 44)
of sampled seafood restaurants gave the impression of U.S. wild-caught shrimp while serving imported farm-raised shrimp by market.
Unlike in grocery stores, there is no federal legal requirement that restaurants disclose country-of-origin information regarding the seafood they serve to customers.
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) restaurant guidance
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued new restaurant guidance in 2024 that clearly explains that it is illegal to use decorations, menus, and social media to mislead customers about the origin of seafood served in the restaurant.
The FTC explains:
… by using photos of fishermen and fishing boats, and saying things like “Eat local,” and “We catch ‘em,” the decorations, menus, and social media may give people what the FTC calls a net (seriously) impression that the restaurant serves fresh, local fish and shrimp. If that isn’t true, the restaurant needs to reel it in. Not only is it illegal to mislead customers about where the seafood is from, it’s also not fair to other restaurants that tell the truth and play by the rules.