August 30, 2019 — Seafood may be labeled as local from North Carolina, but often it actually comes from Asian ponds and arrives infused with harmful supplements, according to a new study.
A third of the shrimp marked as harvested from North Carolina waters likely was farm raised in a foreign country with fewer laws and oversight, according to a new study by the University of North Carolina.
Members of the study group bought 106 shrimp from 60 vendors, including 14 in Dare County and 15 in Hyde County. DNA tests determined the species.
The study highlights a practice where companies falsely label foreign seafood as local to sell at higher prices, double the amount in some cases.
“Consumers deserve to know what they’re getting,” said Glenn Skinner, executive director of the North Carolina Fisheries Association. “We feel strongly this should not be going on.”