Diners in Slidell, La., can take satisfaction in figuring out that once they order shrimp, they’re often getting the true factor.

A brand new spherical of genetic testing from SEAD Consulting discovered that 87% of shrimp dishes examined in Slidell eating places contained wild-caught Gulf shrimp as marketed. Out of 24 dishes sampled, 21 have been confirmed genuine, whereas three eating places have been discovered to be serving imported shrimp regardless of menus or servers claiming in any other case.

The outcomes put Slidell in uncommon firm, alongside New Orleans, which posted the identical 87% authenticity price earlier this 12 months. Each cities now maintain the bottom seafood mislabeling charges in a Louisiana-wide research funded by the Louisiana Shrimp Process Pressure.

“Slidell has at all times been a spot the place shrimping is greater than enterprise – it’s a lifestyle,” mentioned Rodney Olander of the Louisiana Shrimp Process Pressure. “Household-owned boats and eating places historically work hand in hand to carry fantastic Gulf shrimp to keen diners.”

Seafood fraud stays widespread throughout the South, with some states reporting mislabeling charges as excessive as 78% within the absence of labeling legal guidelines. Louisiana, nonetheless, has required origin disclosure at eating places since 2008 and strengthened the regulation this 12 months with harder enforcement measures.

The Slidell findings underscore the affect of these protections. Stricter labeling necessities and routine verification checks not solely guard shoppers from being misled but in addition defend the legacy of Louisiana shrimpers, who face steep competitors from cheaper imported seafood.

The authenticity issues for shoppers’ wallets as effectively. Research present that dishes marketed as Gulf shrimp usually price $4 extra per plate than these brazenly labeled as imports. Fraudulent dishes can fetch the identical worth – or much more – than genuine Gulf choices, making mislabeling a profitable tactic for unhealthy actors.

Slidell’s efficiency mirrors different Louisiana cities which have fared higher than their Southern counterparts within the ongoing research. Latest testing in Lake Charles confirmed a 79% accuracy price, whereas Baton Rouge, Shreveport and Lafayette additionally scored considerably higher than seafood markets in Florida and Georgia, the place fraud charges exceeded 70%.

At this spring’s New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Pageant, almost each shrimp dish examined was confirmed to comprise wild Gulf shrimp – regardless that pageant distributors will not be required by regulation to reveal sourcing.

“Louisiana’s seafood labeling legal guidelines, when paired with sturdy enforcement, reward sincere eating places and provides our shrimpers a preventing probability in opposition to lower-value imports,” mentioned John Williams, government director of the Southern Shrimp Alliance.

For shoppers in Slidell, the outcomes imply they will order shrimp po’boys or gumbo with confidence. However the three circumstances of misrepresentation function a reminder that vigilance remains to be wanted. With out genetic testing, even seasoned diners can’t at all times inform what’s on their plate.

Nonetheless, the excessive price of authenticity is some extent of satisfaction for a neighborhood deeply tied to the Gulf.

“It is a win not only for eating places and diners,” Olander mentioned, “however for each shrimper who will get up earlier than daybreak to ensure Louisiana can hold serving the most effective seafood on the planet.”