Seafood
FDA is responsible for ensuring that the nation's seafood supply, both domestic and imported, is safe, sanitary, wholesome, and honestly labeled. This page provides access to content about seafood, including fish and shellfish, from across the Food section of FDA.gov. Grouped according to target audiences, these links include access to up-to-date consumer information and advice, guidance documents, regulation, and science and research content.
Spotlight
- New! Activities for the Safety of Imported Seafood (PDF) March 2023
This report details how established FDA regulation and innovative programs and technology are employed to help ensure the safety of imported seafood. - The FDA Moves into Third Phase of Artificial Intelligence Imported Seafood Pilot Program August 2022
- FDA Shares Results on PFAS Testing in Seafood
- Enhancing the Safety of Imported Shrimp Through Regulatory Partnerships A conversation with Steven Bloodgood, Acting Director, Division of Seafood Safety and Fazila Shakir, Staff Director, Regulatory Cooperation and Partnerships.
- Updated Fish and Fishery Products-Hazards and Controls Guidance
Consumers
This section provides updates and information about seafood safety for consumers.
- Eating Fish: What Pregnant Women and Parents Should Know
- Selecting & Serving Fresh & Frozen Seafood Safely
- Safe Food Handling
- Aquacultured Seafood
- Food Safety for Moms-to-Be
- Food Irradiation
- Safe Sources of Puffer Fish
- Vibrio vulnificus Education
- Oil Spill
Industry
This section provides information about seafood guidance, regulations imports and exports.
- The Seafood List (Fish Naming)
- Seafood Regulation & Guidance
- Seafood HACCP
- Seafood HACCP Video Series
- Hazards & Controls Guidance
- Imports & Exports
- FDA DNA Testing
- Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill
- Nutrition Information for Seafood - Retail Store Posters
- Labeling of Foods Comprised of or Containing Cultured Seafood Cells
The term molluscan shellfish refers to bivalve molluscan shellfish (e.g. clams, oysters, mussels, scallops) that have a two-part hinged shell and filter the water they inhabit. When filtering water through their gills, they may also bioaccumulate bacteria, toxins, or other contaminants if they are present in the water column. This creates a potential risk for consumers who enjoy eating raw molluscan shellfish. Requirements of the National Shellfish Sanitation Program (NSSP) are intended to address the sanitary control of molluscan shellfish. The NSSP is a federal/state cooperative program with the primary goal of protecting public health by ensuring that only safe molluscan shellfish reach consumers. This section lists resources for stakeholders and supports the NSSP.
- Marine Biotoxin Management for Molluscan Shellfish Training Video
- National Shellfish Sanitation Program
- Interstate Certified Shellfish Shippers List
- Shellfish Equivalence
- Bivalve Molluscan Shellfish Trade with the European Union resumes. The FDA announced the final equivalence determination in September 2020 and negotiations between the U.S. and the EU were completed in 2022. The resumption of bilateral trade in bivalve molluscan shellfish was announced on February 27. For the first time since 2011, U.S. producers, beginning in the states of Massachusetts and Washington, are eligible to export live, raw and processed bivalve molluscan shellfish to the EU, including oysters, clams, mussels, and whole or roe-on scallops. EU producers in Spain and the Netherlands are also eligible to export live and raw bivalve molluscan shellfish to the United States. See: United States and European Union to Resume Trade in Live, Bivalve Shellfish. See also: Webinar on Shellfish Equivalence with European Union Member States - 10/01/2020 - 10/01/2020 | FDA for more information on the process for recognizing additional States and procedures for firm listing and export certification.
Scientists & Researchers
This section provides information about research, methods, data, and other scientific content.
- DNA-based Testing
- Processing Parameters to Control Pathogens
- Bad Bug Book
- Knowledge Base Gaps
- Mercury in Seafood
Additional Resources
How to Report Seafood-Related Toxin and Scombrotoxin Fish Poisoning Illnesses
To help the FDA effectively investigate, remove unsafe seafood products from the market, and develop new prevention strategies, the FDA relies on illness reporting from public health officials and healthcare providers. While most foodborne outbreaks are tracked through the FDA’s Coordinated Outbreak Response and Evaluation (CORE) network, seafood-related illnesses caused by natural toxins have a unique reporting mechanism. This web page provides information on commonly occurring seafood-related illnesses and how to report them to the FDA. To report an illness from raw bivalve molluscan shellfish, email the FDA at shellfishepi@fda.hhs.gov.
- FDA Blogs on Food Topics
- Consumer Updates on Food
- FISH WATCH - U.S. Seafood Facts
- NOAA Seafood Inspection Program
- Interstate Shellfish Sanitation Conference
- Food Safety Information
- Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA)
- USDA Inspection Program for Siluriformes (including catfish)
- IUU Fishing and Seafood Fraud