One of the first priorities of ACT is to reinforce the superior quality and wholesomeness of true fresh tilapia fillets produced in the Americas and sold at retail seafood departments. The last few years has seen a rise in lower quality and lower costing previously frozen tilapia fillets from China and other southeast Asian countries being sold at retail seafood counters. Some very responsible grocery store chains offer “refreshed” seafood items in their store for the convenience of their customers, and follow FDA and USDA labeling regulations declaring these products as “previously frozen”. In addition, these responsible businesses also list any additives (such as carbon monoxide) these products contain so that consumers can make an informed decision about the products they choose to purchase. Other businesses have elected not to inform their customers about the fact that some of the seafood items offered in the fresh counter have been previously frozen or about additives used in those products. Additionally ACT members have detected misleading and incorrect information regarding country of origin labeling where thawed fillets from China and other southeast Asian countries were claimed to be a product of Ecuador, Costa Rica, or Honduras for instance.

It is obvious by recent press reports regarding the safety of seafood imports from China the FDA does not have the resources to monitor and enforce current labeling laws. The temptation (driven by high margins) to mislabel frozen fillets as fresh, misrepresent country of origin and use carbon monoxide to “freshen up” frozen fillets all constitute a threat to the growth of true fresh tilapia production in the Americas. ACT will set its sights in correcting this situation to preserve the wholesome image of true fresh tilapia fillets and maintain the trust of the American consumer. Focusing on the fresh grocery counter, ACT will make the consumer aware of the differences between previously frozen, carbon monoxide treated products and wholesome, additive free, fresh tilapia from the Americas.

Recent hearings by a subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee concluded that due to “diminished capacity” the FDA lacks the funding and manpower to properly inspect seafood imports. They concluded frozen carbon monoxide treated fish is often decomposed and unfit for human consumption.

ACT accepts the rights of the consumer and retailer to provide choices to the consumer. However, ACT believes the consumer also has the right (supported by existing labeling laws) to be made aware of the differences between true fresh fillets produced in the Americas and Carbon Monoxide treated, previously frozen fillets from China and other southeast Asian countries. ACT feels the consumer is largely unaware that this chemical, Carbon Monoxide o CO, is used to make frozen fillets hold their color once defrosted, and it is this process that gives this product its market appeal. ACT feels it has the right to compete on a level playing field by demanding that existing labeling laws are followed at fresh seafood counters.

Fresh tilapia producers pioneered the development of the high quality fresh tilapia fillet market in the United States during the 1990s and we feel the current state of affairs with regard to the fraudulent sales of thawed carbon monoxide treated fillets is putting everyone in the industry at risk and that an industry is only as strong as the trust it obtains from its customers.