Testing finds some mislabeled shrimp, but two MC restaurants pass the test

Nearly a year after genetic testing turned up imported shrimp at the Shrimp & Petroleum Festival, two thirds of restaurants tested this year in the Houma-Morgan City area sell authentic Gulf shrimp. And that includes two Morgan City restaurants.
But recent genetic testing shows that even here, where shrimp boils are sacred and seafood culture runs deep, mislabeling of shrimp dishes still occurs one out of eight times, according to SEAD Consulting.
SEAD, using its field-based RIGHTTest genetic technology, tested shrimp dishes from 24 restaurants in the Houma area July 13-15.
The results showed that 16 out of 24 dishes (67%) contained genuine Gulf shrimp, including two Morgan City restaurants, Atchafalaya Café and Rita Mae’s Kitchen of Morgan City.
“Shrimp coming out of the Gulf, that’s the best,” said Rita Mae’s Manager Michael Noel on Wednesday.
“Atchafalaya Café will always have only Gulf shrimp,” said Attecia Cheramie Alston of the café.
The SEAD showed that eight out of 24 (33%) were imported, and three of those were explicitly mislabeled as local, a 13% inauthenticity rate.
"Although a 13% inauthenticity rate is much lower than markets without mislabeling laws, such as Tampa, Florida, where 98% of restaurants were caught not serving what they were representing, it’ s still of concern to local shrimpers, restauranteurs and residents of the Houma area,” SEAD said in a press release.
“Down here, Gulf shrimp isn’t just seafood — it’s identity,” said Lance Nacio, Houma shrimper and Louisiana Shrimp Task Force board member.
“I’m glad to see that 67% of restaurants are doing the right thing for generations of hardworking shrimpers and trusting customers who believe they are supporting the local shrimping industry.
"Shame on the handful of restaurants who are misrepresenting what they are selling.”
While five of the eight imported shrimp samples were labeled correctly, three restaurants used vague or misleading terms like "fresh shrimp," only disclosing the product’s origin when asked directly.
“This is about integrity,” said Al Mahler, a Houma restaurateur called Big Al’s, and lifelong Gulf seafood advocate. “My kitchen serves wild-caught Louisiana shrimp because that’s what we believe in. People don’t come here for shortcuts — they come for tradition, flavor, and trust.”
These restaurants were found to be serving authentic Gulf shrimp as advertised or implied:
•1921 Seafood
•531 Liberty Café
•Abear’s Café
•Alumni Grill
•Atchafalaya Café
•Big Al’s Seafood
•Boudreau and Thibodeau’s Cajun Cookin’
•Cajun Critters
•C’est Bon Café
•Copelands of New Orleans
•Mr. Po-boy East
•Off the Hook
•Rita Mae’s Kitchen
•Rouse’s No. 17
•Spahr’s Seafood
•The Ground Pat’i
SEAD didn’t release the names of businesses that served inaccurately labeled shrimp, saying the information would go to regulators.
The same genetic testing process performed last year at the Louisiana Shrimp & Petroleum Festival determined that four of five vendors tested were selling imported shrimp.
Festival organizers responded with a statement in support of rules insuring the accurate labeling of shrimp.