SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) – Louisiana’s Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser is advocating for a ten-cent per pound inspection fee on all imported seafood, following reports of radioactive shrimp from Indonesia being sold in Walmart stores across the South.
On Thursday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned the public about California-based Southwinds Foods’ “voluntary” recall of select imported frozen shrimp products due to possible contamination with radioactive isotope cesium-137.
The shrimp was distributed between July 17 and 18 by an Indonesian food processing company and sold in Walmart stores in 12 states, including Louisiana. On Friday, the FDA updated the advisory announcing that PT. Baharis Makmur Sejati, the shrimp producer, was “in violation of the Federal FD&C Act,” and said an FDA investigation was ongoing.
In response to the recall, Nungesser sent a letter to President Donald Trump and Louisiana’s congressional delegation, urging them to support the proposed fee. He believes that this fee would enhance oversight of imported seafood and protect the health of American families.
Nungesser, the son of a Louisiana shrimper, has been a champion for Gulf shrimp and has highlighted the need for more oversight and transparency measures, including restaurants noting when imported shrimp is on the menu.
“Several years ago, I got them all to support a resolution asking the federal government. To impose a 10-cent-per-pound inspection fee. We inspect less than 10% of the imported seafood. A lot of that is rejected, chock-full of antibiotics or full of bacteria. It’s unhealthy,” Nungesser said during an interview with NBC 6 in April.
The renewed call for the inspection fee comes after the radioactive shrimp recall was announced.
An inspection fee could lead to increased scrutiny of imported seafood, potentially preventing future incidents similar to the radioactive shrimp reports. The response from federal officials and the impact on seafood imports remain to be seen.
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