Alaska Deemed Violation-free in Multi-state Seafood Investigation
On the heels of a multi-state investigation conducted by the National Conference on Weights and Measures that revealed significant overcharges from incorrect package weights on some frozen seafood products, Alaska was found to be the only state to have zero violations out of the 17 that participated in the probe.
The investigation was prompted by the National Fisheries Institute, a seafood industry association, in response to growing concern that reduced funding for weights and measures inspection programs may be tilting the playing field in favor of dishonest businesses. The study revealed that some packers are including the weight of ice glazing in the labeled weight for the seafood, which is prohibited by state and federal law.
“For Alaska’s involvement, we tested 82 lots of 14 brands at nine locations, with zero violations,” said Dan Breeden, director of the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT&PF), whose department was involved in the study. “In Alaska, the division works with producers, packers, processors and wholesalers to ensure restaurants, retailers and customers are not cheated.”
Leo von Scheben, commissioner of Alaska’s DOT&PF, said the findings are illustrative of how the state’s seafood industry “self-polices and is committed to proper management and integrity.”
The investigation was prompted by the National Fisheries Institute, a seafood industry association, in response to growing concern that reduced funding for weights and measures inspection programs may be tilting the playing field in favor of dishonest businesses. The study revealed that some packers are including the weight of ice glazing in the labeled weight for the seafood, which is prohibited by state and federal law.
“For Alaska’s involvement, we tested 82 lots of 14 brands at nine locations, with zero violations,” said Dan Breeden, director of the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT&PF), whose department was involved in the study. “In Alaska, the division works with producers, packers, processors and wholesalers to ensure restaurants, retailers and customers are not cheated.”
Leo von Scheben, commissioner of Alaska’s DOT&PF, said the findings are illustrative of how the state’s seafood industry “self-polices and is committed to proper management and integrity.”