FDA Refuses Entry of Antibiotic-Contaminated Shrimp, Raising Concerns About Third-Party Certifications
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has refused 71 shrimp entry lines year-to-date in 2026 due to contamination with banned antibiotics. In October 2026 alone, eight shrimp entry lines were refused for veterinary drug residues. A significant finding is that 73% of these refused shrimp shipments originated from facilities holding Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) certifications, a program operated by the Global Seafood Alliance. These BAP-certified facilities are located in six different countries, including Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam. The highest number of refusals came from India, Indonesia, and Vietnam. This trend has prompted questions regarding the effectiveness of third-party certification audits in detecting the use of banned veterinary drugs at farms and processing plants. The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee had previously requested information from the Global Seafood Alliance in May 2026 concerning its certification programs, but...
