A new study has uncovered that more than 70 percent of shrimp served in Savannah’s seafood restaurants is imported, raising concerns about transparency and food safety. The findings come amid growing support for a Georgia seafood bill that would require restaurants to disclose where their seafood, especially shrimp, comes from. SEAD Consulting, a research firm specializing in food sourcing, tested shrimp at 44 seafood restaurants in the Savannah area. The company used the Rapid ID Genetic High-Accuracy Test (RIGHTTest) to perform the testing. Seventy-seven percent of those establishments were found to be serving imported shrimp rather than locally sourced seafood. Only 10 restaurants in the study could confirm their shrimp came from Georgia waters.Tybee Seafood Market owner Brian Anderson was not part of the study, but he has been vocal about his commitment to selling only locally sourced seafood.”Pond-raised products are not coming into this store. It’s not going to happen,” Anderson said.The biggest issue for Anderson and other local seafood advocates isn’t just the lack of transparency—it’s the potential health risks associated with imported shrimp. Many foreign shrimps are farm-raised in questionable conditions, which can introduce harmful substances into the food supply.”You get pond-raised shrimp. They get birds flying over, bird’s nest, normal birds doing their thing in the water. The shrimp are down there eating the residual. You got antibiotics, you got pesticides,” Anderson said.The reliance on imported shrimp is also having a direct impact on local businesses. Cheaper foreign shrimp make it difficult for local suppliers to compete.”If I go down a timing some big volume guys, we’re getting it for $4. Well, I’m at $6 or $7. I’m not going to do it,” Anderson said, highlighting the pricing disparity. As the debate over imported versus local seafood continues, supporters of Georgia’s seafood transparency bill hope it will soon become law. The bill would require restaurants to list the country of origin for all seafood on their menus, allowing consumers to make more informed choices.”I think it’s going to help the public stand up, have a little bit more backbone. ‘Okay. You told me it was local shrimp. Let me see this local shrimp,'” Anderson said.SEAD Consulting has announced plans to conduct another round of testing in Savannah. If the bill passes, the company says it will share its findings with state officials.Here are the 10 restaurants out of 44 sampled in the Savannah area found to be serving wild-caught local Georgia shrimp as advertised or implied: Belford’s Seafood and SteaksBoar’s Head Grill & TavernCoastal 15Fiddler’s Crab House & Oyster BarLove’s Seafood & SteakThe Olde Pink HousePier 16RhettSEAD Consulting didn’t release the names of 34 Savannah restaurants using imported shrimp. TRENDING STORIESGreening of the Fountain kicks off Savannah St. Patrick’s Day eventsPolice: 3 injured, 2 arrested following shooting in Statesboro apartment complexAuthorities in Georgia searching for teenage girl not seen in more than a month
A new study has uncovered that more than 70 percent of shrimp served in Savannah’s seafood restaurants is imported, raising concerns about transparency and food safety.
The findings come amid growing support for a Georgia seafood bill that would require restaurants to disclose where their seafood, especially shrimp, comes from.
SEAD Consulting, a research firm specializing in food sourcing, tested shrimp at 44 seafood restaurants in the Savannah area. The company used the Rapid ID Genetic High-Accuracy Test (RIGHTTest) to perform the testing.
Seventy-seven percent of those establishments were found to be serving imported shrimp rather than locally sourced seafood. Only 10 restaurants in the study could confirm their shrimp came from Georgia waters.
Tybee Seafood Market owner Brian Anderson was not part of the study, but he has been vocal about his commitment to selling only locally sourced seafood.
“Pond-raised products are not coming into this store. It’s not going to happen,” Anderson said.
The biggest issue for Anderson and other local seafood advocates isn’t just the lack of transparency—it’s the potential health risks associated with imported shrimp. Many foreign shrimps are farm-raised in questionable conditions, which can introduce harmful substances into the food supply.
“You get pond-raised shrimp. They get birds flying over, bird’s nest, normal birds doing their thing in the water. The shrimp are down there eating the residual. You got antibiotics, you got pesticides,” Anderson said.
The reliance on imported shrimp is also having a direct impact on local businesses. Cheaper foreign shrimp make it difficult for local suppliers to compete.
“If I go down a timing some big volume guys, we’re getting it for $4. Well, I’m at $6 or $7. I’m not going to do it,” Anderson said, highlighting the pricing disparity.
As the debate over imported versus local seafood continues, supporters of Georgia’s seafood transparency bill hope it will soon become law. The bill would require restaurants to list the country of origin for all seafood on their menus, allowing consumers to make more informed choices.
“I think it’s going to help the public stand up, have a little bit more backbone. ‘Okay. You told me it was local shrimp. Let me see this local shrimp,'” Anderson said.
SEAD Consulting has announced plans to conduct another round of testing in Savannah. If the bill passes, the company says it will share its findings with state officials.
Here are the 10 restaurants out of 44 sampled in the Savannah area found to be serving wild-caught local Georgia shrimp as advertised or implied:
- Belford’s Seafood and Steaks
- Boar’s Head Grill & Tavern
- Coastal 15
- Fiddler’s Crab House & Oyster Bar
- Love’s Seafood & Steak
- The Olde Pink House
- Pier 16
- Rhett
SEAD Consulting didn’t release the names of 34 Savannah restaurants using imported shrimp.
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