In a move to safeguard the integrity of the seafood industry, a top Federal Trade Commission official has put the nation’s leading seafood restaurant chains on notice, warning them to stop making false claims about serving locally caught seafood. This crackdown comes on the heels of complaints from domestic fishermen who claim that misleading menus and advertising are giving imported seafood an unfair advantage.
The United States relies heavily on imported seafood, with a staggering 80% of its seafood coming from abroad, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. However, restaurants have been known to capitalize on consumers’ desire for fresh, locally caught seafood by making false claims about their menu items.
In a bid to curb this practice, FTC Commissioner Alvaro Bedoya sent letters to the top 10 highest-grossing seafood restaurants, including Red Lobster, Long John Silver’s, and Legal Sea Foods, cautioning them that any false advertising about locally caught seafood would be subject to investigation.
“The key takeaway is that it’s not just about what you say, but how you say it,” Bedoya emphasized. “The overall impression you create for consumers needs to be truthful.”
This warning comes after the FTC issued guidelines in September clarifying that restaurant decor, menu descriptions, and social media posts can all be considered misleading if they suggest that seafood is locally caught when it’s not.
Bedoya’s efforts are also driven by his personal experience visiting with Gulf Coast shrimpers who have seen their industry decline due to competition from cheaper imports. In fact, over 90% of shrimp imports come from India, Ecuador, Indonesia, and Vietnam, according to the Southern Shrimp Alliance.
The Alliance has been pushing for stronger FTC enforcement, citing the struggles of its member businesses to compete with imported seafood. By taking a tough stance on false advertising, the FTC aims to level the playing field and ensure that consumers get the truth about the seafood they eat.
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