(The Center Square) − When you order shrimp in Lake Charles, chances are you’re getting exactly what’s promised on the plate.
A new genetic testing initiative commissioned by the Southern Shrimp Alliance and the Louisiana Shrimp Task Force found that 19 out of 24 shrimp dishes sampled at local restaurants contained either verified wild-caught Gulf shrimp or correctly labeled imports.
That 79% accuracy rate is among the highest seen so far in an eight-state study designed to uncover seafood mislabeling across the South — and it stands in stark contrast to other areas.
In states without seafood labeling laws, the average rate of mislabeling hits a staggering 78%. In places with labeling laws but less enforcement, that figure drops to 34%. Lake Charles, thanks to Louisiana’s robust legal framework and enforcement, has the lowest mislabeling rate recorded in the study to date.
“Louisiana’s seafood labeling laws, when paired with robust enforcement, allow consumers to make informed choices,” said John Williams, executive director of the Southern Shrimp Alliance. “Strong enforcement ensures consumers receive authentic Gulf shrimp, rewards restaurants that source high-quality local seafood, and enables our shrimpers to compete against lower value, often unethically produced imports.”
The genetic testing was conducted by SEAD Consulting, which identifies the species and origin of shrimp used in restaurant dishes.
The study also exposed how much consumers are willing to pay for authenticity.
On average, shrimp dishes marketed as containing Gulf shrimp cost about $4 more per plate than those labeled as imports. In Lake Charles, Gulf shrimp po’ boy sandwiches sold for nearly twice as much as those made with imported shrimp.
One restaurant that was caught falsely marketing imported shrimp as Gulf commanded a much higher price than those being transparent about their sourcing.
“The price data clearly demonstrates that consumers place a premium on U.S. wild-caught shrimp,” Williams said. “Unfortunately, that’s also why dishonest actors misrepresent what they’re serving.”
Indeed, the study found that fraudulent dishes often cost as much — or even more — than the real thing, underscoring how mislabeling can be a lucrative tactic for unscrupulous businesses.
Louisiana has required seafood origin disclosure at restaurants longer than any other state, first adopting the law in 2008. A 2025 amendment strengthened the rules even further. As of January 1, food establishments must now explicitly state whether their seafood is from the U.S. or another country.
If serving imported seafood, restaurants must also include a disclaimer: “Some items served at this establishment may contain imported seafood. Ask for more information.”
The law seems to be working. Louisiana cities fare significantly better as it relates to serving domestic shrimp. Baton Rouge, Shreveport, New Orleans, Lake Charles and Lafayette all reported scores well below any other city. New Orleans scored the lowest at 13% of seafood restaurants serving imported farm-raised shrimp, Lake Charles at 21% Baton Rouge at 29%, and Lafayette at 33%.
Markets like Tampa and St. Petersburg, and Savannah showed extremely high levels of misrepresentation — 95% and 77% respectively.
