One of the simplest frauds to perpetrate for frozen seafood, particularly small items such as prawns, is to bulk up the declared weight by including the weight of some, or all, of the ice glaze. A glaze is essential for product quality. In most jurisdictions, including the US, EU and UK, the declared net weight on the pack must exclude the weight of any added glaze.
The US FDA have just released results from 28 imports of frozen seafood tested between 2022 and 2024. They found that 10 of the 28 were violative for short weighing. The % of short weighing ranged from 2.4 – 9.9% of the declared pack weight. These samples were not randomised – they includes some samples taken as the result of complaints, as well as the FDA’s surveillance samples which are targeted on a risk basis. Samples were in retail packs, and were collected at port of entry. Further details, including countries of origin, can be found here.
