May 2, 2013 — The “Safety and Fraud Enforcement Act for Seafood” (HR 1012) introduced by U.S. Representative Ed Markey (D-MA) to fight seafood labeling fraud and improve seafood import inspections is gaining bi-partisan support. Congressmen Walter Jones (R-NC), Jo Bonner (R-AL) and eleven other House Members have co-sponsored the bill, to-date.
April 23, 2013 — “In 2008, Congress transferred catfish inspections to the U.S. Department of Agriculture from the Food and Drug Administration and the National Marine Fisheries Service,” explained Rep. Frank Lucas (R-Oklahoma), chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, in a statement disputing seafood importers’ assertions echoed in a recent GAO report that the move duplicates costs.
April 16, 2013 — “It’s no secret that importers bringing foreign fish into the U.S. are using their deep pockets to cloud this issue,” stated Ben Pentecost, president of the Catfish Farmers of America in a statement refuting the accuracy of a study recently issued by the U.S. General Accountability Office.
March 27, 2013 — Earlier this month, Mississippi amended its catfish Country of Origin Labeling law to require restaurants to also identify the origin of catfish-like pangasius (also sold as basa, tra and swai) served to customers.
March 19, 2013 — Across-the-board federal “sequestration” budget cuts mean 2,100 fewer food safety inspections and increased risks for consumers, according to U.S. Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Margaret Hamburg.
March 14, 2013 — The Catfish Institute carried its promotion of U.S. Farm-Raised Catfish to Boston this week for the 2013 International Boston Seafood Show, held March 10-12 at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center.
March 6, 2013 — Catfish is among six species AARP Magazine cited in its February/March 2013 issue as “packed with disease fighting nutrients.” Specifically, AARP says catfish:
March 1, 2013 — The problem of mislabeled fish sold to American consumers has been the subject of many investigative news reports in recent years. Although such fraud continues to gain attention, the problem persists. As much as 50-percent of seafood offered on restaurant menus is not the species listed, according to the New York Times, Boston Globe, Los Angeles Times and, most recently, Fox News.
February 19, 2013 — U.S. Senators from Arkansas, Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi urged the Obama Administration to enforce U.S. trade laws and protect American catfish growers from an increasing flood of low-cost Asian imports.
