State Rep. Chip Brown (R-Hollinger's Island) was pleased when his seafood labeling bill was finally passed and signed into law in 2024. Restaurants and grocery stores are now required to disclose the country of origin for their seafood products, including fish, shrimp and oysters.
Brown said he faced an uphill battle after supporters of the hospitality and retail industries tried to block his bill. Although the bill became law, Brown said on Mobile radio FM Talk 106.5's "The Jeff Poor Show," that the law isn't being followed or enforced as it should be.
"What the Department of Public Health says and what's really going on – I don't think they're absolutely on the same page," Brown said. "I don't think it is a priority for them, unfortunately, and so, we're going to have to look at, you know, changing the enforcement side of it."
Brown accused the Department of Public Health of "not acting in good faith" and said some restaurants look for loopholes around the law.
"It's unfortunate because you know, what we're trying to do was want to promote people to buy seafood that's caught in the Gulf of America and caught in Mobile Bay and also to provide the consumers the opportunity that they need to know, 'Hey, this is where my seafood comes from and is it farm-raised or is it wild caught?" he said.
Brown said that with DNA technology available, tests can show what part of the world shrimp and oysters come from. He said that sort of testing could improve enforcement and help restaurants ensure their suppliers are not being deceitful.
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