May 10, 2006

US finds 8,000 pounds of bogus filets from Vietnam

Authorities in Florida have discovered nearly 8,000 pounds of Vietnamese broadhead filets that were labeled as grouper, Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Charles Bronson said on Tuesday (May 9).

The discovery was made last week at Shifco Inc, a food processing plant, during a routine inspection.

A stop-sale order was issued and the plant's customers were contacted to determine whether any shipments have been sent out.

Bronson said companies who substitute more expensive fish with cheaper ones are defrauding customers, adding that an investigation has been launched and sanctions may be imposed.

Wild-caught grouper fetches twice the price of farm-raised broadhead filets.

The shipment would have saved the company US$15,000 to US$28,000.

Fines of up to US$5,000 can be imposed for repeated mislabeling of products, said Bronson.