SEAFOOD.COM NEWS by John Sackton Aug 5, 2013 — The FDA has just released a table of changes to the official seafood names list for the period January to June 2013. The official FDA 'seafood list' determines the legal label requirements for fish and shellfish sold in the U.S. Several of the changes seemed positive, in that they simplify or expand the range of commonly used seafood names.
Three changes that seemed significant involved Chilean mussels, toothfish, and snow crab.
First, the Chilean species of mussel, Mytilus chilensis, now can be sold as "mussels". Previously this species of blue mussel was not listed as 'mussel' on the seafood list. Chilean mussels have been a growing factor in the US market in recent years, especially in processed forms like half shell and cooked frozen.
Secondly, the FDA has removed the distinction between Antarctic toothfish and Chilean sea bass. Previously antarctic toothfish could not be marketed as Chilean sea bass, but instead had to be called toothfish, while Chilean toothfish could be sold either as Patagonian toothfish or Chilean Sea bass. The revision allows the common names of either toothfish or chilean sea bass to be used interchangeably for all toothfish species.
Finally, most crab and crabmeat from Chionoecetes species can be sold as snow crab. This means that in addition to Opilio, the Russian crab products such as angulatus can be called snow crab. This also applies to Bairdi and other tanner crabs. The crab designation was part of a specfic list of common names for nonstandardized foods that was part of the new food safety law.
The same law designated japonicus as "Beni-zuwai Crab" for an acceptable market name.
There were other changes for dogfish/cape shark, monkfish and some minor species.
The entire list of updates can be seen here.
This story originally appeared on Seafood.com, a subscription site. It is reprinted with permission.