Today, SEAD Consulting uncovered that 33% of sampled restaurants in Lafayette, Louisiana, are serving farm-raised imported shrimp in place of local wild-caught. Read the full release
“Louisiana alone has had seafood disclosure laws in place for many years, which is evident in the significantly lower amount of false labeling found in Baton Rouge, Lafayette, and New Orleans compared to markets in states that lack menu labeling laws,” states John Williams, executive director of the Southern Shrimp Alliance. “Consumers prefer local wild-caught shrimp and should be able to identify it easily and confidently.”
Taking effect in 2008, Louisiana has required restaurants to disclose the origin of shrimp longer than any other state. SEAD Consulting’s test results for Baton Rouge, Lafayette and New Orleans restaurants, commissioned by the Louisiana Shrimp Task Force, had an average inauthenticity rate of 25%. Other tested markets in southern coastal states lacking restaurant labeling laws, commissioned by the Southern Shrimp Alliance, have seen significantly higher rates of false advertising and misleading labeling, averaging 79%.
Louisiana’s Seafood Labeling Law
The Louisiana law was amended recently 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.
Labeling Laws Change Consumer Behavior
Retail establishments (such as grocery stores, supermarkets, and club warehouses) have been required to use country of origin labeling (COOL) for seafood products, like shrimp, since 2005.
Prior to COOL, the U.S. International Trade Commission estimated that 80% of shrimp was sold to food service establishments, while just 20% were sold through retail. Today, with COOL requirements in place for fifteen years, the U.S. shrimp industry has increasingly focused its sales and marketing efforts on retail channels, with nearly half of all shrimp processed into product forms sold at retail rather than food service establishments.
“When consumers know what they are buying, it benefits the local shrimp industry and coastal communities. When Americans are given the choice, they choose U.S. wild-caught shrimp. Companies should never be allowed to use our reputation to sell an inferior product,” said Williams. “We celebrate the restaurants in Lafayette that are giving their customers what they are expecting to be served: U.S. wild-caught shrimp.”
A list of state seafood laws, test results, and sampled restaurants found by SEAD Consulting to sell genuine U.S. wild-caught shrimp can be found at https://shrimpalliance.com/issues/industry-enhancement-efforts/seafood-labeling-laws/