Beginning next month, consumers in Mississippi should have no question as to where the food on their plates comes from.
Earlier this year, the Mississippi legislature passed House Bill 602, requiring that all seafood and crawfish sold in the state to be labeled as “imported” or “domestic.” The new law, which goes into effect July 1, includes all seafood and crawfish sold by wholesalers, processors, retailers, and food service establishments. That includes distributors, grocery stores, markets, restaurants, and food trucks.
Oversight and enforcement of the new labeling requirements will be jointly managed by the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources and the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce. The two agencies will inspect businesses across the state to ensure compliance.
“Mississippi’s new seafood labeling law is a pivotal step toward restoring consumer trust and safeguarding the integrity of our Gulf Coast heritage,” MDMR executive director Joe Spraggins said, per a news release. “By mandating clear domestic or imported labeling for all seafood products, the law empowers consumers to make informed choices, ensuring they receive the quality they expect and deserve.”
The law was created after seafood labeling became a hot-button issue in Mississippi, specifically in the coastal region. Last year, Biloxi eatery Mary Mahoney’s Old French House and its co-owner were sentenced for importing thousands of pounds of foreign seafood and mislabeling them as locally caught. The restaurant’s supplier, Quality Poultry and Seafood Inc., and two of its managers were subsequently handed sentences for purposely mislabeling seafood before distribution. Quality Poultry and Seafood was the largest seafood distributor on the Mississippi Gulf Coast at the time.
While the judicial process appeared to be a win for transparency when it comes to seafood mislabeling, a subsequent private investigation found that mislabeling imported seafood as locally caught is not abnormal along the state’s shoreline. SeaD Consulting, a firm that specializes in genetic testing to monitor mislabeling and substitution fraud in the seafood industry, tested food from 44 coastal restaurants and found that only eight properly advertised what they were selling.
Spraggins noted that transparency and accountability are imperative when it comes to the seafood industry in Mississippi.
“This transparency not only supports our local fishermen and businesses but also holds establishments accountable,” he added. “As we embrace this change, we reaffirm our commitment to honesty, quality, and the rich culinary traditions that define Mississippi.”
Businesses selling seafood and crawfish are encouraged to begin preparing for the new law by reviewing sourcing documentation, updating signage and menus, and training staff. Labels clarifying whether seafood and crawfish are domestic or foreign must be clearly displayed on menus, packaging, sales displays, or any form pf public advertisement. Labeling text must be the same size as the product name. If domestic and imported products are mixed, the product must be labeled as “imported.”
If caught mislabeling seafood, fines can build up to $10,000 and licenses can be suspended indefinitely until violations are corrected. Criminal charges can also be filed.
Both MDMR and MDAC will provide outreach and educational resources to support businesses as they adapt to the new requirements. Commissioner Andy Gipson, who charges the agriculture department, said the transition should be seamless and compared it to the already-existing labeling law for catfish.
“In the same way our MDAC inspection team has long enforced the marketing law for U.S. Farm-Raised Catfish, we look forward to expanding our efforts to protect Mississippi consumers by adding seafood and crawfish to the inspection protocol,” Gipson said, plugging domestic seafood over foreign. “…I encourage every Mississippi consumer to look for and purchase domestic U.S. seafood whenever you eat out and shop.”
