Senators Cantwell and Murkowski are the supporters of the change in the name 'Alaska pollock'. (Image: Stock File/FIS)
New legislation proposes changing Alaska pollock's name
UNITED STATES
Thursday, October 01, 2015, 03:30 (GMT + 9)
Bipartisan legislation proposes to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to change the market name of “Alaska pollock” to “pollock” in order to avoid misrepresentation and protect Pacific Northwest Seafood.
Senators Lisa Murkowski and Maria Cantwell, the legislators who introduced the label change, explain the change aims to better distinguish the pollock harvested in Alaskan waters (Theragra chalcogramma) from Russian pollock passing itself off as “Alaskan pollock” in American stores.
This legislation is co-sponsored by Senator Dan Sullivan and Senator Patty Murray.
It is calculated that in 2012, 113 million pounds of Russian pollock were sold to US consumers as “Alaska pollock.”
Senators Cantwell and Murkowski believe the labeling move is necessary because the Alaskan pollock fishery is far more sustainable and produces higher quality products compared to international Pollock fisheries.
“Alaska is known world-wide for our top quality seafood. When consumers seek out the words, ‘Alaska, wild-caught’ at the grocery store, they shouldn’t be deceived by what they are actually getting,” stressed Senator Murkowski.
“The change in nomenclature is necessary to avoid ongoing misrepresentation of the origin of pollock that is purchased and consumed in the US,” the legislator added.
For her part, Senator Cantwell pointed out: “Today, all Pollock can be labeled as Alaskan – no matter where it’s caught. The Alaskan Pollock fishery is one of the most sustainable fisheries in the world, and consumers have a right to know if the Pollock they see in the grocery store, or on a menu, is real, sustainable Alaskan Pollock caught by American fishermen.”
This bill also makes a similar change to golden king crab (Lithodes aequispinus), which can only be legally labeled as brown king crab, even though it is known as golden king crab today.
The Genuine Alaska Pollock Producers (GAPP) support these efforts and have previously cited several reasons for the requested change:
- The use of “Alaska pollock” as an acceptable market name is misleading to consumers;
- “Alaska pollock” is understood by consumers to connote a geographic origin, not a particular kind of food from any geographic origin;
- The use of “Alaska pollock” as an acceptable market name is inconsistent with other similar fish species; and
- US government programs support other efforts to provide accurate information to consumers about the seafood they purchase.
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