U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) has introduced the Let Americans Buy with Explicit Labeling (LABEL) Act, a bill designed to require clear labeling of all seafood products sold in the United States. The legislation aims to make it mandatory for seafood, whether wild-caught or farm-raised, to display its country of origin and method of production on packaging or display materials. The required information would have to appear in a font size at least as large as the product name.
Currently, labels on some imported seafood are printed in very small fonts that can be overlooked by consumers. This situation may put U.S. producers at a disadvantage when competing with imported alternatives.
“Mississippi’s seafood industry is already battling a flood of cheap imports, much of which don’t meet the same safety standards our domestic producers uphold,” said Senator Hyde-Smith. “This bill would ensure American consumers know exactly where their seafood comes from, while giving our domestic fishermen and producers a fair chance to compete.”
Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) joined Hyde-Smith in introducing the LABEL Act. He stated: “American producers have been undercut by foreign producers dumping their low-quality seafood into our markets. There’s no better source for fish and seafood than Alabama ponds and the Gulf of America, and we want people to know where their food is coming from. I’m proud to join Senator Hyde-Smith in this legislation that bolsters American seafood production, promotes safe seafood consumption, and protects our domestic producers.”
Both Mississippi and Alabama have already enacted similar state-level requirements for clear labeling of all seafood sold within their borders. The LABEL Act seeks to establish this standard nationwide.
The proposed legislation has received support from several industry groups including the American Shrimp Processors Association (ASPA), Louisiana Shrimp Association, Southern Shrimp Alliance, and Organized Seafood Association of Alabama.
The LABEL Act builds on earlier initiatives by Senator Hyde-Smith aimed at improving food safety and transparency for U.S. consumers. In February, she introduced the Safer Shrimp Imports Act (S.667), which would mandate inspections and compliance with U.S. food safety standards for overseas shrimp before they are allowed into the country.
