USDA REPORTS OVERWHELMING SUPPORT ON NEW REGULATIONS FOR ALL IMPORTED, DOMESTIC CATFISH

WASHINGTON, June 29 – Public comments and evidence submitted to the U.S. Department of Agriculture overwhelmingly support broad inspection and regulation of all commercial catfish species imported or grown for sale to consumers in the United States, according to the USDA website.

Of the 280 comments posted on the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) official comment site, 84 percent, or 234 postings, urged the agency to include all imported and domestic catfish in new regulations currently under consideration by FSIS, according to data posted on Regulations.gov. In addition, more than 4,000 consumers filed petitions on the site urging USDA to include all catfish under the new rules. The public comment period ended Friday, June 24.

“The comments submitted to the USDA make it absolutely clear that consumers, chefs, scientists, public officials and members of the catfish industry all agree: Our government needs to guarantee the safety of every catfish that lands on a plate in the United States, regardless of where it was raised,” said Butch Wilson, president of the Catfish Farmers of America.

Congress voted in 2008 to shift inspection and regulation of catfish from the Food and Drug and Administration (FDA) to the USDA because of safety concerns revealed in several government investigations. In its most recent report released in April, the Government Accountability Office reported that FDA tested only one-tenth of one percent (0.1%) of all seafood imported into the United States for banned drugs in 2009.

The report also found that FDA violated its own regulations and tested no catfish for banned drugs from 2006 to 2009, despite designating catfish as one of its highest priority imports for inspections.
The primary opponents to the new regulations are some exporting nations and the U.S. seafood importing industry. Opponents say they fear many imported fish will be unable to meet the USDA’s health and safety regulations.

The most contentious issue in the new regulations is whether the USDA will inspect all domestic and imported catfish or only catfish related to the U.S.-grown catfish species. If the narrower version of the law is imposed, the majority of imported catfish would be exempt from the new catfish inspection and regulation rules, according to U.S. government data.

“We are asking the USDA not to take a day longer than is absolutely necessary to finish writing and enforce these new consumer regulations,” said Joey Lowery, chairman of the board of the Catfish Farmers of America. “We want all catfish to be as safe as possible for the American consumer as soon as possible.”

For more details see visit: USDA FSIS Public Comments on Catfish Inspections

GAO Seafood Safety: FDA Needs to Improve Oversight of Imported Seafood and Better Leverage Limited Resources

• Report (pdf)
• Report (text)
• Summary

For more information contact:
Molly Moore
molly@sandersonstrategies.com
1-240-475-0590

Or visit www.safecatfish.com

STONEVILLE, Miss., May 26 – Elected officials, chefs and U.S. catfish farmers united today in support of new U.S. Department of Agriculture requirements for the inspection and regulation of all domestic and imported catfish sold in America.

“We are sick and tired of taking the risk on food safety for products that come from other countries and don’t meet our standards,” Mississippi Commissioner of Agriculture Lester Spell told a USDA hearing at the University of Mississippi Research and Extension Center here. “In case Washington hasn’t really heard the American public, we want Washington to stop sacrificing the safety of the American consumer in order to seek favor with any trading partner.”

Spell delivered his comments at the second of two public hearings conducted by the USDA this week to determine how the agency’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) should implement a new rule mandated by Congress to improve the inspection and regulation of catfish. USDA officials are debating whether to include all catfish, or only a single family of catfish.

FDA currently has jurisdiction for catfish regulation. The Government Accountability Office reported in April that FDA tested only one-tenth of one-percent (0.1%) of all seafood imported into the United States for banned drugs in 2009.

The report also found that FDA violated its own regulations and tested no catfish for banned drugs from 2006 to 2009, despite designating catfish as one of its highest priority imports for inspections.

“We talk about obesity and nutrition and are constantly advising families to eat wholesome, healthy foods such as catfish,” said Dolores Frantesi, a Mississippi chef popular on the state’s television food programs. “Our government cannot then in good conscience turn around and allow stores and restaurants to sell food that has not been tested, analyzed and inspected properly. And that’s exactly what’s been happening until now.”

The new regulation, mandated by Congress nearly three years ago, would shift responsibility for catfish regulation from FDA to USDA, which has much greater authority and capabilities to inspect and regulate catfish production and processing.

The most contentious issue is whether the USDA will inspect all domestic and imported catfish or only catfish related to the U.S.-grown catfish from the Ictaluridae family. If the narrower version of the law is imposed, only nine percent of all imported catfish would be subject to the comprehensive new catfish inspection and regulation rules, according to U.S. government data.

“Where does that leave the consumer?” said Wayne Branton, president of the Catfish Farmers of Arkansas. “Is the catfish on his or her plate among the percent that has been inspected, or is it among the percent that was just waved through with no inspection? There’s certainly no way to tell the difference after it’s been fried or grilled .”

Scientists and other aquaculture experts testified that foreign governments allow catfish farmers to use large numbers of antibiotics and other drugs that are banned in the United States. Health experts warn that the drugs pose long-term dangers to consumers because the drugs build up over time, preventing critical antibiotics from working when people contract life-threatening illnesses.

Seafood importers and some importing nations oppose the new safety standards.

“This rule does not require anything different of imported catfish than it does of our domestic catfish,” said Mississippi State Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith. “How could anyone oppose a regulation that makes their product and their industry safer and boost consumer confidence?”

For more information contact:
Molly Moore
molly@sandersonstrategies.com
1-240-475-0590

Or visit www.safecatfish.com

WASHINGTON, May 24 – Food safety groups, scientists and members of Congress urged the U.S. Department of Agriculture today to enact stronger requirements for inspecting and regulating all domestic and imported catfish sold in America.

The recommendations were delivered during the first of two public hearings scheduled by the USDA to determine how the agency’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) should implement a new rule mandated by Congress to improve the inspection of catfish. USDA officials are debating whether to include all catfish under the new guidelines or only one type of catfish.

“Because one-third of all catfish consumed in the U.S. is imported, it is important for consumer health and safety that we provide the necessary tools and resources to ensure these imports meet the same quality standards as domestic products,” said U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran (R-MS), one of four Senators and members of Congress who today spoke in favor of including all catfish under the new rules. “The current inspection system for catfish does not meet that responsibility.”

FDA currently has jurisdiction for catfish inspections. The Government Accountability Office has issued several reports citing deficiencies in the FDA catfish inspection program. In the most recent report released in April, GAO reported that FDA tested for banned drugs in only one-tenth of one-percent (0.1%) of all seafood imported into the United States in 2009.

The report also found that FDA violated its own regulations and tested no catfish for banned drugs from 2006 to 2009, despite designating catfish as one of its highest priority imports for inspections.

The new regulation, mandated by Congress nearly three years ago, would shift responsibility for catfish regulation from FDA to USDA which has much greater authority and capabilities to inspect and monitor catfish production and processing.

Patty Lovera, assistant Director of Food & Water Watch, a leading consumer protection group, testified, “Consumers are looking for more protection than the current system is giving them. FSIS can be much more protective of consumers than the FDA.”

The most contentious issue is whether the USDA will inspect all domestic and imported catfish or only catfish related to the U.S.-grown catfish from the Ictaluridae family. If the narrower version of the law is imposed, only nine percent of all imported catfish would be subject to the comprehensive new catfish inspection and regulation rules, according to U.S. government data.

“We are not asking imported catfish to be treated any differently than our own catfish,” said Joey Lowery, chairman of the board of the Catfish Farmers of America. “We want all catfish to be as safe as possible for the American consumer.”

Scientists and other aquaculture experts testified that foreign governments allow catfish farmers to use large numbers of antibiotics and other drugs that are banned in the United States. Health experts warn that the drugs pose long-term dangers to consumers because the drugs build up over time, preventing critical antibiotics from working when people contract life-threatening illnesses.

Dr. Carole Engle, director of the Aquaculture/Fisheries Center at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, testified that Vietnamese farms she has visited raised catfish in “raceways” using untreated river water including “all wastes, whether from human sewage, farm runoff, or discharges from factories, slaughterhouses, and cities.”

“It is important that the USDA include all catfish – those raised in the U.S. and those imported – in this regulation,” Rep. Mike Ross (D-Ark.) said. “American consumers need confidence that every catfish served in every restaurant or sold in every grocery store is safe to eat.”

Catfish importers argued against the inspection of all catfish and accused U.S. catfish farmers of trying to keep foreign fish out the American marketplace.

“We are not opposed to imports,” said Butch Wilson, president of the Catfish Farmers of America. “We only oppose unhealthy imports. If there is an outbreak of sickness from any catfish, consumption of all catfish will go down, regardless of its point of origin. Consumers won’t understand why some catfish were regulated and not others.”

The second public hearing will be conducted from 9 a.m. to noon, Thursday, May 26, in Stoneville, Mississippi.

For more information contact:
Molly Moore
molly@sandersonstrategies.com
1-240-475-0590

Or visit www.safecatfish.com

COCHRAN: GAO REPORT SHOWS NEED FOR BETTER INSPECTION OF IMPORTED SEAFOOD, INCLUDING CATFISH VARIETIES

Report Says 0.1 Percent of Imported Seafood Inspected by FDA in 2009 for Drug Residues

WASHINGTON, D.C. – A critical Government Accountability Office (GAO) report on the inspection of seafood imported into the United States gives credence to the argument that the federal government must do more to protect American consumers, U.S. Senator Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) said today.

The GAO today released a report titled “Seafood Safety: FDA Needs to Improve Oversight of Imported Seafood and Better Leverage Limited Resources,” that provides an unfavorable assessment of the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) efforts to inspect imported seafood.

“The GAO has confirmed what many of us have maintained for some time: that the existing federal program to inspect imported seafood is so limited that it is insufficient and ineffective,” Cochran said.

“The need for better oversight of imported seafood is among the reasons why Congress wants the U.S. Department of Agriculture to decisively move forward with new federal safety standards for foreign catfish imports,” he said.

The GAO report faults the FDA’s program for ensuring the safety of seafood imports against residues of drugs used by foreign aquaculture operations. Drugs, like antibiotics, can be used to fight bacterial inspections in aquaculture. The FDA is responsible for certifying the safety of seafood against residues from unapproved drugs.

The GAO report notes that FDA inspectors rely on reviewing records and generally do not visit foreign aquaculture farms or laboratories to verify U.S. safety standards. The report cites the FDA’s limited sampling program and highlights that only seven of 13 FDA laboratories engage in seafood safety inspections. It states that the FDA tested about 0.1 percent of all imported seafood products for drug residues in FY2009.

Cochran sponsored a requirement in the 2008 Farm Bill that directs the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) to inspect catfish and catfish products, as well as the conditions under which the fish are raised and transported. A proposed USDA rule issued in February did not resolve the definition of which catfish or related fish types to which the federal rule would apply.

A public comment period on a USDA proposed rule on the catfish issue is set to expire at midnight June 24. The FSIS will conduct a public meeting on the catfish rule in Washington, D.C., on May 24, followed by a second meeting on Thursday, May 26, in Stoneville, Miss. (details below)

Related links:

GAO Seafood Safety: FDA Needs to Improve Oversight of Imported Seafood and Better Leverage Limited Resources

- For a PDF of the Report, click here.

- For a text version of the Report, click here.

- For the Report Summary, click here.

USDA FSIS Public Comment Period on Catfish Inspections

The FSIS meeting in Washington, DC is scheduled for May 24, 2011 from 9 a.m. to noon in the USDA Jefferson Auditorium (South Building), 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250. Attendees must provide a photo ID to enter the building, and they should enter the building via Wing 5 or 7 on 14th Street.

The FSIS meeting in Stoneville is scheduled for 9 a.m. to noon in the Charles Capps Center at the Delta Research and Extension Center of the Mississippi State University. The Capps Center is located at 82 Stoneville Road, Stoneville, Miss. 38776.

For additional information and registration details for the May 26 meeting, visit this link or call Joan Lindenberger, FSIS Office of Public Affairs and Consumer Education, (202) 720-6755, or by e-mail at Joan.Lindenberger@fsis.usda.gov

- For the FSIS Proposed Rule & Documents, click here.

- For the FSIS Office of Catfish Inspection, click here.

May 23, 2011
Restaurant Hospitality

Better double-check the identity of any grouper, sole or shrimp your restaurant buys. The wholesale seafood bandits are at it again, with two of them now cooling their heels in a federal penitentiary for selling mislabeled product to customers like you.

We last wrote about purposely-mislabeled seafood back in 2006 (“Bait and Switch, Seafood Style”) That’s when the St. Petersburg Times bought a number of restaurant items menued as “grouper” and sent them to an animal DNA lab for testing. The results: some samples of purported grouper were basa, an Asian catfish; others turned out to be tilapia, hake or a species even professional fish DNA specialists couldn’t pin down, other than to say they were sure it wasn’t grouper. None were actually grouper.

The latest incident also involved phony grouper, along with falsely labeled sole, snapper and wild American shrimp. But it wasn’t merely an investigative newspaper reporter doing the snooping. This time around, the federal government got involved, hoping to send a strong message to would-be wrongdoers.

Here’s how it went down. In early 2010, a federal grand jury in Mobile, AL, returned a 28-count indictment against Arizona residents and fish company owners Karen Blyth and David Phelps. The pair operated Consolidated Seafood Enterprises in Phoenix and Reel Fish and Seafood in Pensacola, FL. Early this year, Blyth and Phelps pleaded guilty to 13 of the counts. They were sentenced last week, with Blyth being sent to federal prison for 33 months, Phelps for 24 months. Each was fined $5,000.

It’s not so much that federal officials have necessarily become more eager to protect restaurant owners and restaurant customers from fraudulent fish purveyors. It’s more that, in the wake of the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill and its resulting damage to Gulf Coast fisheries, the interests of this area’s fishing industry have become paramount.

The federal attorneys working the case certainly sounds like they’ve had enough of phony fish purveyors.

“These significant sentences are appropriate penalties for Blyth and Phelps, who committed multiple felonies in conspiring to scam consumers with falsely labeled, cheaper fish substitutes from Asia and Africa,” Ignacia Moreno, assistant attorney general for the Environment and Natural Resources Division of the Department of Justice, told a Baton Rouge, LA, newspaper. “Their fraudulent scheme artificially deflated the cost of wild-caught fish and gave them an unacceptable economic advantage over law-abiding fishermen.

“These prosecutions and the sentences that were imposed today should send a clear message that instance of consumer fraud will not be tolerated and that this U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to aggressively protect local seafood consumers and all components of the local seafood market and industry,” added Kenyen Brown, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Alabama.

Blyth and Phelps were able to pursue their scheme in part because wholesale customers like restaurants weren’t asking a lot of questions about or spending much time examining the fish they bought. The pair plead guilty to selling farm-raised Asian catfish and Lake Victoria perch important from Africa as grouper, as well as to repackaging imported farm-raised shrimp for sale as wild American shrimp.

The takeaway for restaurant operators here is that it’s wise to question seafood whose origin, price or appearance makes it seem suspicious. You can’t police the often-murky seafood supply channels yourself, but be aware you’ve got plenty of help if something doesn’t seem right. In this case, the investigation was a joint effort of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Office of Law Enforcement; the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement; the U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations; and the Department of Defense, Defense Criminal Investigative Service.

Collectively, this bunch commands a lot of investigative firepower. It’s good to have them working for you if you need help keeping your seafood suppliers above board.

Source: Penton Media, Inc.

By MOLLY HARBARGER
Houston Chronicle
Posted: March 12, 2011, 3:11AM

WASHINGTON ­- Seldom do U.S. businesses seek — even lobby for – more government regulation of their industries. But American catfish farmers see federal regulation as the only thing between their livelihoods and financial ruin.

A fear of competition from lower-priced foreign imports from Southeast Asia has Texas catfish farmers and their trade groups embracing U.S. government regulation.

Steve Klingaman, owner of Aqua Farms in El Campo, says imported fish from China and Vietnam, which he considers inferior and environmentally unsafe, could have a devastating effect on his catfish farm.

“There’s no doubt it will put us out of business,” he said. “I still have a fish farm, but I’m thinking very seriously about closing it.”

Already, he’s had to lay off 40 workers.

The U.S. government soon may step in to help aquaculture businesses such as Klingaman’s.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is now seeking public feedback on its plan to oversee catfish farming at every stage of production – the first step toward regulating all catfish bound for the United States, whether grown domestically or internationally.

“Definitely, they need to be regulated,” says Klingaman, referring to his competition in China and Vietnam. “They need to be looked at real heavily.”

Foreign catfish producers say the new rules would violate World Trade Organization rules by unfairly assisting domestic companies.

American catfish farmers, however, claim that many fish imports from Vietnam’s Mekong Delta are bringing unsafe chemicals into the U.S. food supply, compared with the largely mechanized American production methods.

American catfish farmers sold $403 million worth of fish in 2010, an 8 percent increase from the year before, according to the USDA. The top four states – Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas and Texas – account for 94 percent of total sales.

Texas had more than $13 million in 2010 sales, a slight increase from 2009. Matagorda and Wharton counties lead the state in catfish production.

Texans eat 55 million pounds of the whiskered fish each year, making the state the second-highest consumer of catfish, per capita.

Most not inspected
The federal Food and Drug Administration inspects just 2 percent of seafood, according to a Government Accountability Office report.

That’s one reason the catfish industry got behind 2008 legislation on Capitol Hill that shifted oversight of catfish from the FDA to the Agriculture Department, which in the past has regulated meat but not seafood.

Their reasoning: The Agriculture Department had more personnel to enforce health and safety rules.

“For U.S. catfish farmers, food safety is our highest priority and we welcome stricter USDA oversight of both our domestic catfish and imported catfish,” said Joey Lowery, president of the Catfish Farmers of America. “Whether a food safety incident results from domestic or foreign fish, the impact is the same: Consumer confidence in all catfish plummets.”

The backlash against foreign fish, however, sounds a lot like protectionism to the National Fisheries Institute, which represents international catfish farmers.

Spokesman Gavin Gibbons said it is a costly way for catfish farmers to nudge out competition from countries that are selling fish that taste similar to channel catfish at lower prices.

“It is not about food safety,” said Gibbons.

“It’s about trade, and it’s quickly becoming about wasting taxpayers’ money.”

What is a catfish?
It’s also about the government’s definition of a catfish.

The USDA is seeking public comment on the definition, setting forth two options: A catfish is either any fish in the Siluriformes order, which would include the Chinese and Vietnamese pangasius fish, or it is just the North American native Ictaluridae family.

Most American farmers are asking for the broader definition that would require the USDA to inspect all fish imports.

If the broader definition were adopted, it would mean the USDA would set up inspection operations in Vietnam and China, or require farmers there to prove their production methods are equivalent to the USDA’s accepted methods.

Narrower definition
The narrower definition would apply almost exclusively to U.S. farmers.

James Bacchus, former chief judge of the World Trade Organization’s appellate panel for eight years, warns that the inspection program might result in World Trade Organization litigation.

In his legal opinion on including pangasius as catfish, he said the U.S. would need clear, scientific proof that oversight for catfish is worth the estimated $30 million it would cost and isn’t excluding foreign out of interest for U.S. farmers.

View this article online here.

McCAIN BILL IGNORES IMPORT DANGERS, FAVORS WEAK FOOD SAFETY RULES

WASHINGTON, March 8 – A proposal by Sen. John McCain to repeal a law making all catfish safer for American consumers ignores numerous findings of banned substances in imported catfish products and favors inadequate food safety requirements.

“It is stunning that Sen. McCain has chosen to protect importers and Vietnamese farmers over the health and safety of American citizens,” said Butch Wilson, newly elected president of the Catfish Farmers of America.

The U.S. Congress, concerned about food safety, voted to move catfish inspections and regulation from the FDA to USDA as part of the 2008 Farm Bill.

A bill proposed by Senators John McCain (R-Arizona) and Tom Coburn (R-Oklahoma) would repeal the 2008 regulation.

The USDA has greater authority to conduct on-site safety inspections of production facilities, guarantee accurate labeling and enforce requirements that imported meat, poultry and catfish meet the same health and safety standards as American products. The USDA’s inspection requirements and regulations are well-known to U.S. trading partners.

In a statement announcing the bill, McCain alleged the “Food and Drug Administration hasn’t reported any safety or health problems with the Vietnamese imports.”

That is wrong. The FDA has found in imported catfish from Vietnam and other nations potentially dangerous chemicals or drugs that are banned by the United States in farm-raised catfish, according to the FDA. Details at this FDA link:

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported last month a major criminal case of mislabeling and hazardous contaminants found in Vietnamese frozen catfish fillets imported by a seafood import company in McCain’s home state of Arizona. NOAA’s criminal investigation discovered that the Arizona company “bought Vietnamese catfish illegally imported into the U.S. labeled as sole” which was then sold to approximately 65 different wholesale customers, including supermarkets and restaurants.

“Some of the fish tested positive for malachite green and Enrofloxin, both of which are considered health hazards and banned from U.S. food products,” NOAA said in a statement on this link:

In addition, the Alabama Department of Agriculture & Industries issued a halt on the sale of imported Asian catfish and related fish in November 2009 after the fish tested positive for antibiotic Fluoroquinolones banned for use in fish or other seafood products sold in the United States because of the health and safety danger to consumers.

“There could be no better advertising for catfish than to have the USDA seal of approval stamped on the package,” said Wilson, adding that the law would apply to all U.S. Farm Raised Catfish as well as imported catfish. “We welcome the USDA oversight on our U.S. Farm-Raised Catfish. Whether a food safety incident results from domestic or foreign fish, the impact is the same: Consumer confidence in all catfish will evaporate.”

For more information contact:
Butch Wilson
President, Catfish Farmers of America
wilsoncatfish@gmail.com

Molly Moore
molly@sandersonstrategies.com
1-240-475-0590

Or visit www.safecatfish.com

CATFISH FARMERS OF AMERICA WARNS AGAINST BACK-PEDDLING ON FOOD SAFETY

WASHINGTON, March 3 – The Catfish Farmers of America welcomes streamlining U.S. government regulation of America’s food supply chain, but warned today that back-peddling on critical seafood safety inspections and regulations will put consumers at greater risk.

In a new report, the Government Accountability Office questions the cost of transferring the regulation of catfish from the Food and Drug Administration to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The comments were contained in a report recommending consolidation of America’s food safety agencies.

“The GAO report’s suggestion that regulation of catfish be returned to the FDA is a giant step backwards in protecting the health and safety of American consumers,” said Butch Wilson, newly elected president of the Catfish Farmers of America.

“Congress moved catfish inspections from the FDA to USDA because the USDA system provides far greater health and safety oversight of catfish production and processing,” said Wilson. “That decision was based, in part, on a previous GAO finding that FDA inspects only two percent of all seafood imported into the United States.”

The USDA has greater authority to conduct on-site safety inspections of production facilities, guarantee accurate labeling and enforce requirements that imported meat, poultry and catfish meet the same health and safety standards as American products.

“Our primary goal is to ensure the safety of our product for the American consumer,” Wilson said.

For more information contact:
Butch Wilson
President, Catfish Farmers of America
wilsoncatfish@gmail.com

Molly Moore
molly@sandersonstrategies.com
1-240-475-0590

Or visit www.safecatfish.com

U.S. CATFISH FARMERS SUPPORT USDA DECISION FOR TOUGHER CATFISH INSPECTIONS

WASHINGTON, Feb. 18 – The Catfish Farmers of America today applauded the U.S. Department of Agriculture for recommending implementation of a law requiring tough new inspections and regulation of catfish sold in America.

“We are extremely pleased that the USDA has recommended stricter regulation of catfish which will mean greater protection for American consumers,” said Joey Lowery, President of the Catfish Farmers of America, an advocacy group. “This regulation was approved by Congress more than two and one-half years ago and is long overdue.”

The proposed ruling transfers the inspection and regulation of catfish from the FDA to the USDA, which has more stringent inspection and safety programs. The FDA inspects only two percent of all seafood imported into the United States, according to a report by the Government Accountability Office.

The USDA said its recommendation for tougher catfish food safety requirements is based on scientific assessments showing that thousands of food-related illnesses could be prevented each year when the USDA implements the more stringent inspection and regulation of imported and domestic catfish.

“The USDA has determined there is a clear need for a stronger catfish food safety inspection system,” said Lowery. “Now USDA needs to determine how many catfish will be included. We support the USDA’s stronger option which includes all catfish — described in the regulation as “all species in the order Siluriformes, with the three families typically consumed as food, including Ictaluridae, Pangasius, and Clariidae.”

The public and interested groups will have 120 days to offer comments on the proposed regulation to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

“We are certain that based on the food safety risks it cites in the draft regulation, USDA will determine that all catfish products – domestic and imported – sold in America should meet the same rigorous standards for quality and safety,” said Lowery. “That is the only way to ensure that every catfish sold in a grocery store or served in a restaurant or school cafeteria is safe from contamination or harmful chemicals that aren’t allowed here in the U.S.

“For U.S. catfish farmers, food safety is our highest priority and we welcome stricter USDA oversight of both our domestic catfish and imported catfish,” Lowery added. “Whether a food safety incident results from domestic or foreign fish, the impact is the same: Consumer confidence in all catfish plummets.”

Nearly one-third of all catfish sold in America is imported from Vietnam and China, where fish farming environments are far less controlled and the incidence of contamination is much greater than in the United States.

Both federal and state governments have found serious health risks in imported catfish which contain chemicals, pollutants and antibiotics that are banned for use in fish farming in the United States. Federal government agencies recently reported that frozen catfish fillets imported from Vietnam were contaminated with malachite green and Enrofloxin, both of which are considered health hazards and are banned in U.S. food products.

For more information contact:
Joey Lowery
President, Catfish Farmers of America
jlowery@wildblue.net
1-501-454-1810

Molly Moore
molly@sandersonstrategies.com
1-240-475-0590
Or visit www.safecatfish.com