The Southern Shrimp Alliance (SSA) is taking aggressive action to address deceptive marketing of farm-raised imported shrimp as U.S. wild-caught 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.
Average Inauthenticity Rates
States with Restaurant Labeling Laws in Effect
31% (110 of 352)
No Restaurant Labeling Laws in Effect
69% (332 of 484)
of sampled seafood restaurants gave the impression of U.S. wild-caught shrimp while serving imported farm-raised shrimp.
Excludes retested markets.
2024 Alabama labeling law
Alabama Seafood Law 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.
The Alabama Department of Public Health enforces the law and has a verified complaint form on its website.
Gulf Shores
April 2025
43% (19 of 44)
of sampled seafood restaurants gave the impression of U.S. wild-caught shrimp while serving imported farm-raised shrimp by market.
October 2025 Retest
45% (10 of 22)
of sampled seafood restaurants gave the impression of U.S. wild-caught shrimp while serving imported farm-raised shrimp by market.
Mobile
23% (10 of 44)
of sampled seafood restaurants gave the impression of U.S. wild-caught shrimp while serving imported farm-raised shrimp by market.
51st Annual (2024)
National Shrimp Festival
Gulf Shores, Alabama
Out of five shrimp dishes sampled at the festival, only one contained authentic U.S. 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.
In February 2025, two bills were introduced in Florida’s legislature – both in the House and Senate – that would have created a certification program for wild seafood and required food service establishments to disclose whether they are serving imported seafood. Both are reported to have died in Committee in June 2025.
Ft. Lauderdale
89% (39 of 44)
of sampled seafood restaurants served imported farm-raised shrimp.
- 26 (67%) explicitly marketed their shrimp as local or domestic on menus or through staff descriptions, despite genetic testing proving otherwise.
- 8 (21%) acknowledged imported origins when asked.
- 4 (10%) made no comment at all regarding shrimp origin.
Tampa and St. Petersburg
January 2025
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.
September 2025 Retest
86% (19 of 22)
of previously sampled seafood restaurants continued to give 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.” Despite support, the bill did not receive a final vote in the 2025 session. In January 2026, the Senate passed a substitute bill 43-8. It awaits a House vote.
Golden Isles
100% transparency
43 of the 44 sampled restaurant dishes use U.S. wild-caught shrimp. One restaurant served correctly-identified farm-raised imports.
Savannah
77% inauthentic
(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.
Alexadria
54%
(13 of 24)
of sampled seafood restaurants gave the impression of U.S. wild-caught shrimp while serving imported farm-raised shrimp by market.
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.
of sampled seafood restaurants gave the impression of U.S. wild-caught shrimp while serving imported farm-raised shrimp by market.
of sampled seafood restaurants gave the impression of U.S. wild-caught shrimp while serving imported farm-raised shrimp by market.
of sampled seafood restaurants gave the impression of U.S. wild-caught shrimp while serving imported farm-raised shrimp by market.
of sampled seafood restaurants gave the impression of U.S. wild-caught shrimp while serving imported farm-raised shrimp by market.
of sampled seafood restaurants gave the impression of U.S. wild-caught shrimp while serving imported farm-raised shrimp by market.
of sampled seafood restaurants gave the impression of U.S. wild-caught shrimp while serving imported farm-raised shrimp by market.
of sampled seafood restaurants gave the impression of U.S. wild-caught shrimp while serving imported farm-raised shrimp by market.
89th Annual (2024)
Louisiana Shrimp & Petroleum Festival
Morgan City, Louisiana
Out of five shrimp dishes sampled at the festival, only one contained authentic U.S. wild-caught shrimp, provided by Woodreaux’s Cajun Cuisine.
90th Annual (2025)
Louisiana Shrimp & Petroleum Festival
Morgan City, Louisiana
All seven vendors tested were confirmed to be serving local, wild-caught shrimp as advertised.
2024 & 2025
Louisiana Shrimp Festival & Shrimp Aid
New Orleans, Louisiana
All vendors were confirmed to be serving local, wild-caught shrimp as advertised.
2025
Jazz & Heritage Festival
New Orleans, Louisiana
Out of 19 shrimp dishes sampled at the festival, 18 contained authentic U.S wild-caught shrimp. All tested vendors served U.S. wild-caught shrimp.
Mississippi Labeling Law
Beginning July 1, 2025, all seafood and crawfish sold in Mississippi—whether in grocery stores, seafood markets, restaurants or food trucks—must be clearly labeled as either imported or domestic.
Oversight and enforcement of the new labeling requirements will be jointly managed by the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources (MDMR) and the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce (MDAC).
The legislation also establishes a Mississippi Seafood Labeling Task Force to study and recommend seafood labeling laws, genetic testing, and marketing strategies to promote locally sourced seafood in a report by January 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.
Note: Testing occurred before the current state labeling law was proposed.
Jackson Area
64% (28 of 44)
of sampled seafood restaurants gave the impression of U.S. wild-caught shrimp while serving imported farm-raised shrimp by market.
Note: Testing occurred before the state labeling law took effect on July 1, 2025.
No labeling law or pending legislation.
Outer Banks
64% (28 of 44)
of sampled seafood restaurants gave the impression of U.S. wild-caught shrimp while serving imported farm-raised shrimp by market.
Wilmington Area
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.
In March 2025, the state legislature introduced H4248, a bill “To amend the South Carolina code of laws… so as to require that all shrimp products sold in the state have a label noting the country of origin of the shrimp.”
Charleston Area
90% (40 of 44)
of sampled seafood restaurants gave the impression of U.S. wild-caught shrimp while serving imported farm-raised shrimp by market.
In May 2025, Texas passed legislation that requires all food service suppliers, wholesalers, distributors, and wholesale distributors selling shrimp in Texas to include a label with “clear and conspicuous notice stating whether the shrimp is imported.” Further, the law prohibits restaurants from labeling or representing imported shrimp as “Texas shrimp,” “Gulf shrimp,” “American shrimp,” or “Domestic shrimp.” If there is any violation of these requirements, the legislation authorizes the Texas Health Department, a public health district, a county, or a municipality to impose an administrative penalty. The law takes effect on September 1, 2025.
Corpus Christi, TX
57% (25 of 44)
of sampled seafood restaurants gave the impression of U.S. wild-caught shrimp while serving imported farm-raised shrimp by market.
Galveston and Kemah, TX
December 2024
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.
December 2025 Retest
23% (5 of 22)
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.