Genetic testing of seafood at 44 restaurants in South Baldwin that at the time said they serve “authentic Gulf wild-caught shrimp" recently revealed that nearly half instead were serving …
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Genetic testing of seafood at 44 restaurants in South Baldwin that at the time said they serve “authentic Gulf wild-caught shrimp" recently revealed that nearly half instead were serving imported shrimp.
SeaD Consulting was commissioned by the Southern Shrimp Alliance (SSA) to conduct a genetic analyses test on shrimp dishes from 44 restaurants in Baldwin County, including in Gulf Shores, Orange Beach and Foley. The study began after genetic testing of shrimp at the 2024 National Shrimp Festival, which found that four out of five vendors were selling imported shrimp to customers.
According to their findings, sent in a press release, the group found that 25 of the 44 restaurants in the area serve “authentic Gulf wild-caught shrimp,” while 19 serve imported shrimp, despite claiming their shrimp was locally sourced. In addition, they also found that seven “boil house” type restaurants were serving authentic, local shrimp.
In the release, Ernie Anderson, president of the Organized Seafood Association of Alabama, expressed his disappointment with the findings and voiced his concerns about the state of the local industry.
"It's disheartening to see both festival vendors and local restaurants misleading consumers,” Anderson said. “Our shrimpers work tirelessly to provide high-quality, sustainable seafood. When establishments misrepresent their offerings, it undermines our industry and deceives the public."
Last year, Alabama legislators enacted the Alabama Seafood Labeling Law, which requires establishments to disclose the country of origin and whether seafood is wild-caught or farm-raised. The Alabama Department of Public Health is tasked with enforcing this law, which prescribes penalties ranging from warnings to fines up to $1,000 for repeated violations. However, advocates for the law have urged patrons help enforce it by reporting violations.
The legislation was signed into law in May 2024 and went into effect Oct. 1, 2024. Last year's Shrimp Fest took place Oct. 10-13.
According to SeaD, the 19 restaurants in Baldwin County serving imported shrimp will be notified, “urging them to align their practices with Alabama's labeling laws.” SeaD also stated that a follow up test will be conducted to determine if these establishments have come under compliance.
For those that are serving locally sourced shrimp, the study listed the following restaurants of those tested include:
