BEAUFORT, S.C. (WTOC) – People eating along the South Carolina coast will soon know exactly where their shrimp comes from under a new state law designed to bring transparency to menus and support a struggling industry.
The “Truth in Shrimp Labeling Act,” which mirrors similar legislation in Georgia, requires food service establishments to disclose if they are serving imported shrimp explicitly. Restaurants across the state have until October 28 to comply with the new regulations.
Combatting ‘Shrimpgate’ with Transparency
The push for the legislation gained momentum following “Shrimpgate.” A consulting firm tested shrimp at 44 Charleston-area restaurants and discovered a startling truth: only four of those establishments were actually serving local, wild-caught shrimp. The rest were passing off cheaper, imported products as local seafood.
For local shrimpers who have spent decades competing against a massive influx of imports, the law is a long-overdue victory…