Ask Before You Eat
The USDA has a mandatory country of origin labeling (COOL) program. In addition to crawfish, the measure dictates that all meats, including muscle cuts, ground beef, lamb, chicken, goat, pork and wild farm-raised fish and shellfish, must be clearly labeled with information that tells the consumer where the product came from.
The Louisiana Crawfish Farmers Association asserts that packs of Chinese crawfish sold in supermarkets are often labeled with common Cajun Louisiana names to create the impression the product is from the Pelican State. Under the new USDA COOL measure, such product should be clearly labeled as Product of China.
The Association also asserts that there are certain health risks associated with Chinese crawfish. Chloramphenicol, an antibiotic banned in food substances by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, is often found in imported Chinese crawfish. Louisiana ponds and crawfish are tested repeatedly, while there is really no testing in China for banned substances.
In addition to the USDA COOL rules, a new state law makes it unlawful for a Louisiana restaurant to misrepresent the crawfish or shrimp they serve as Louisiana-raised if it’s not:
RS 56:578.14
§578.14. Imported crawfish or shrimp; notice to patrons; penalties
A. No owner or manager of a restaurant that sells imported crawfish or shrimp shall misrepresent to the public, either verbally, on a menu, or on signs displayed on the premises, that the crawfish or shrimp is domestic.
B. The district attorney of the district in which the restaurant is located shall have jurisdiction over violations committed under this Section. The penalties for violations of this Section are as follows:
(1) Any owner or manager of a restaurant who is guilty of a violation of this Section shall, upon a first offense, be fined fifty dollars.
(2) Any owner or manager of a restaurant who is guilty of a violation of this Section shall, upon a second offense, be fined two hundred fifty dollars.
(3) Any owner or manager of a restaurant who is guilty of a violation of this Section shall, upon a third or subsequent offense, be fined five hundred dollars.
Acts 2008, No. 264, §1.