“Are Inspections Enough?” | Food and Environment Reporting Network

The United States imported $19 billion worth of seafood last year, more than nine times the value of the domestic catch that is consumed at home, writes Deborah Zabarenko in a story at Medium. Only 1-2 percent is inspected by FDA and the rejection rate was 0.33 percent in 2012. According to the seafood industry and government officials, the inspection net falls much wider, covering as much as 40 percent of imports.

The multi-strand web includes Customs Service collection of tariffs. The Commerce Department inspects about 25 percent of all seafood consumed in the country. Some importers demand the inspections to prove the seafood is graded or labeled properly. And, some of the shipments are Alaskan seafood that is processed overseas and then sent back to America. FDA also assesses the inspection systems of exporting nations while focusing inspection of imports on likely trouble spots. All the same, some consumer groups want a more rigorous system.

Zabarenko’s story was produced by the Food and Environment Reporting Network with data analysis by Denise Malan of Investigative News Network. FERN and INN are non-profit groups. To learn about Medium, click here.