U.S. consumers were likely shocked to discover that they may be paying up to USD 23 (EUR 17) per pound for ice when purchasing frozen seafood after the mainstream press picked up on the four-week, 17-state investigation into allegations of short-weight seafood. The story received a lot of media attention in the United States, about as much as any seafood-related issue so far this year.
From the Los Angeles Times to the Kansas City Star, the investigation was dubbed “a major win” for consumers.
ABC World News solicited shoppers’ reaction to the news. “I would definitely like to get the full weight of what I’m paying for,” one consumer told the news outlet. “They need to fix it. It’s fraud if that’s really true,” said another consumer.
Several newspapers in Wisconsin, where the story originated, did a bang up job of localizing the investigation by interviewing area retailers. WEAU-TV talked to one store manager who said he did not know the store was in violation and that it has discontinued business with the vendor in question.
The Fond du Lac Reporter talked to a local seafood retailer who said glazing is a common practice used to help protect seafood from freezer burn, and that it wasn’t something he was concerned about at his store.
The Chicago Tribune went above and beyond its peers’ coverage of the investigation. The newspaper cited many sources, including the National Fisheries Institute, local retailers, distributors and various state officials. It even tried to contact the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, but to no avail.
All the news coverage was up front about the fact that ice glazing is completely legal in the United States. However, including the weight of the ice in the labeled weight of seafood is prohibited.
April 7, 2010
