On October 23, 2026, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced two things that matter to anyone who buys seafood. The first is new draft guidance on how companies can label American seafood with statements like “U.S.-Caught.” The second is a crackdown on imported frozen seafood that is sold short on weight. Both are part of a broader federal plan called the America First Seafood Strategy, and both get at a question we hear from customers all the time: how do I know what I am actually buying?
What is the new U.S.-origin labeling guidance?
The FDA released draft guidance that gives seafood companies examples of origin statements it would consider truthful and not misleading, such as “U.S.-Caught,” along with graphics like American flag imagery that companies could use on qualifying products. The idea is simple: make it easier for shoppers to spot seafood that was caught in the United States, and give American fishermen and processors a clear way to stand out.
The guidance also makes an important point that we fully agree with. Origin statements should be fully substantiated. A flag on the package should mean something, and the companies using it should be able to back it up.
What has not changed (yet)
This is draft guidance, not a new law or a final rule. FDA guidance is a set of non-binding recommendations, and this version is open for public comment before the agency finalizes it. Labels in the grocery store will not change overnight, and seeing a flag or a “U.S.-Caught” statement is still only as reliable as the company behind it. For now, the best habit is the same one it has always been: read the label, look for where the seafood was caught, and buy from people who can tell you.
The ice glaze problem: paying for water
The second half of the announcement is the part that made us sit up. Many frozen seafood products are coated in a thin layer of ice, called a glaze, to protect them in the freezer. That is a normal practice. The problem comes when the weight of that ice is counted as seafood, so you pay for frozen water instead of fish.
The FDA routinely tests imported frozen seafood for this, and its most recent sampling found that 46% of the imported products it tested were short-weighted, with some claiming to weigh as much as 32.8% more than their actual seafood content. In response, the agency placed the 11 foreign firms responsible on Import Alert, which allows their products to be detained at the border.
How to shop with confidence
You do not need to become a labeling expert to buy good seafood. Start by checking where the seafood was caught and whether it is wild or farmed, since that tells you which fishery and which set of rules stand behind it. Look at the net weight and the price per pound together, and be a little skeptical of frozen seafood that seems priced too good to be true. Most of all, buy from a source you trust to answer your questions about origin, harvest and handling.
If you want to go deeper, we have written about why buying American seafood matters, how eating wild Alaska seafood supports American fishing families, and why flash-frozen seafood can be fresher than what you find at the fish counter.
Why this matters to us
Premier Catch is a family company that grew out of the Besecker seafood family, whose Dana F. Besecker Company buys directly from fishing boats. We know the fishermen, we know the fisheries, and we think you deserve to know them too. Our wild seafood comes primarily from Alaska and the Pacific Northwest, with Wild Gulf Shrimp from the U.S. Gulf Coast, and every product page tells you where that species is caught. Clearer origin labeling is good news for the American fishing families we work with, and for anyone who wants to know where dinner came from.
Frequently asked questions
Is the FDA requiring “U.S.-Caught” labels on seafood?
No. The FDA issued draft guidance with examples of U.S.-origin statements companies could choose to use on qualifying products. Guidance is not a requirement, and this version is still open for public comment.
What is ice glaze on frozen seafood?
Ice glaze is a thin coating of ice that protects frozen seafood in storage. It becomes a problem when the weight of the ice is counted toward the net weight, so shoppers pay for water instead of seafood.
Where does Premier Catch seafood come from?
Our wild seafood comes primarily from Alaska and the Pacific Northwest, with Wild Gulf Shrimp from the U.S. Gulf Coast. Each product page lists where that species is caught.
Sources: HHS, FDA Advances America First Seafood Strategy (October 23, 2026) · FDA, Draft Guidance for Industry: U.S.-Origin Statements on Seafood · FDA, Collection and Analysis of Imported Frozen Seafood for Economically Motivated Adulteration