The Global Aquaculture Alliance’s Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) program has withdrawn its certification of Cumbrian Seafoods Ltd. following allegations that the UK company marketed shrimp from a non-BAP-certified source as coming from a certified facility.
BAP Executive Director Jim Heerin warned in an e-mail on Friday that any abuse of the BAP logo or misrepresentation of product origin constitutes fraud and can lead to legal action.
“BAP vigorously defends the integrity of its brand, upon which the viability and credibility of the whole BAP certification process depends,” said Heerin. “For this reason, the BAP program requires robust traceability systems in all certified facilities.”
Cumbrian management informed the BAP program that it has terminated any identification of product as coming from BAP-certified facilities and is working to prevent misbranding in the future. Cumbrian was acquired Lion Capital out of administration last December.
The misbranded shrimp was reportedly sold at Asda stores in the UK. Asda is owned by Walmart.
