LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY) -- Some diners in Lafayette may be disappointed to learn that the shrimp on their plate is not local, as advertised.

According to a recent study by SEAD Consulting, 33% of sampled restaurants in Lafayette are serving farm-raised imported shrimp instead of local wild-caught.

Between Feb. 10-13, SEAD Consulting conducted random genetic testing on shrimp dishes from 24 local restaurants. Of those 24, eight establishments were selling non-gulf shrimp. Of those eight restaurants, four were misrepresenting their shrimp offerings, deceiving consumers who expect genuine Gulf seafood, according to Dave Williams, SEAD Consulting founder and commercial fishery scientist.

"The results in Lafayette restaurants are similar to the inauthenticity results in Baton Rouge recently at 30%, whereas New Orleans had only a 13% inauthenticity rate," Williams said. "To find that one in three dishes being served in the heart of Cajun country are imported farm-raised shrimp instead of local, domestic wild-caught shrimp that supports the Cajun shrimp industry was surprising."

SEAD Consulting developed the Rapid ID Genetic High-Accuracy Test in collaboration with Florida State University, which enables species identification and country-of-origin determination within two hours in field settings, WIlliams said. 

SeaD investigators said in Lafayette, of the eight restaurants serving the farm-raised imports, four of them labeled imports correctly on menus or in signage, in compliance with Louisiana menu labeling laws. The remaining four were found to be serving imported shrimp while advertising local-wild caught.

The following 16 restaurants sampled were found to be serving authentic local wild-caught shrimp as advertised (in Lafayette unless otherwise noted):

• Bon Temps Grill, 1211 W. Pinhook Road
• Chris' Po-Boys, 1930 W. Pinhook Road
• Don's Seafood, 4309 Johnston St.
• Dwight's Restaurant, 4800 Johnston St.
• Fat Pat's, 626 Verot School Road
• Fezzo's, 6701 Ambassador Caffery Parkway, Broussard
• Half Shell Oyster House, 109 Old Camp Road, Suite 114
• Louisiana Po'Boys, 5445 Johnston St.
• Mandez's Seafood Bar & Grill, 110 Doucet Road
• Olde Tyme Grocery, 218 W. St. Mary Blvd.
• Poor Boy's Riverside Inn, 240 Tubing Road, Broussard
• Prejean's, 3480 NE Evangeline Thruway, Carencro
• Royal Seafood Mart, 137 Albertson Parkway, Broussard
• Spoonbill Watering Hole & Restaurant, 900 Jefferson St.
• Ton's Drive-In, 101 W. Main St., Broussard
• Young's Sports Grill, 305 E. Main St., Broussard

SEAD Consulting declined to name the restaurants they found serving imported shrimp, but spokesperson Glenda Beasley said they did give the names of those possibly in violation of labeling laws to enforcement officials.

The study was funded by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries' Shrimp Task Force.

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