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Georgia-caught? Maybe not: Over half of Savannah restaurants misidentified shrimp source, study says
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LISTEN: DNA tests found nearly 60% of Savannah restaurants claiming local shrimp served imported shrimp instead. GPB's Jillian Magtoto reports.
For the past two years, research group SeaD Consulting has conducted genetic testing of shrimp sold at restaurants along the East and Gulf coasts. In May, it completed its second year of testing in Savannah.
"We look for restaurants that are specifically through name or through menu or through location, implying they're serving American wild-caught shrimp," said SeaD cofounder David Williams.
Of 22 restaurants explicitly or implicitly claiming to serve American, wild-caught shrimp, 13 of them — nearly 60% — were found to be selling shrimp outside of U.S. waters.
This year’s results show slight improvement from last year’s 77%.
Williams said this could be because shrimp’s origins must now be labeled, per a Georgia bill passed in May.
"I believe that authenticity levels will go up a bit, and hopefully that will take some pressure off the fishing communities that everybody loves," said Williams.
The nine restaurants that were found to serve authentic local shrimp can be found on their website at SeaDConsulting.com.
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