Seafood Media
Crackdown on Contaminated Seafood Imports Gains Momentum in U.S. Senate
New bill backed by Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith would allow destruction of unsafe food shipments and block repeat entry attempts
UNITED STATES Thursday, March 19, 2026,
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) has announced her support for new legislation aimed at preventing previously rejected and potentially dangerous imports — particularly contaminated seafood — from reentering the United States market.
The proposal, known as the , would expand the authority of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services by allowing it to destroy products regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that are deemed significant threats to public health. The bill also targets practices such as “port shopping,” where importers attempt to reintroduce rejected goods through different entry points.
“American consumers will be better protected from everything from contaminated seafood to knock-off medications by giving the FDA direct authority to destroy anything that fails to meet U.S. health and safety standards. This would keep those dangerous goods from ever reaching our homes or businesses,” said Hyde-Smith , who previously introduced the ahead of a “radioactive” shrimp recall last August
The legislation was introduced by U.S. Senator Rick Scott (R-Fla.) , who emphasized the national security and public health implications of unsafe imports.
“Americans should never be put at risk because bad actors, especially from companies in Communist China or other adversarial nations, continuously attempt to sneak dangerous and contaminated food and other products back into our country after being rejected,” Scott said “My bill makes clear that if the FDA says a product is too hazardous for American families, it will not be allowed back into our markets under any circumstances. This gives federal authorities the tools they need to destroy these shipments quickly and keep our supply chain and families safe.”
Currently, the FDA has the authority to destroy certain hazardous imports, such as unsafe medical devices and medications. However, that authority does not extend to food products — including seafood — that fail to meet U.S. safety standards. The proposed bill seeks to close that gap and streamline the destruction process, preventing rejected goods from being returned to foreign shippers and potentially re-imported.
In the House of Representatives , companion legislation ( H.R.2715 ) has been introduced by U.S. Representative Clay Higgins (R-La.) and cosponsored by U.S. Representative Mike Ezell (R-Miss.) . The effort has garnered support from industry groups, including the Southern Shrimp Alliance , which has advocated for stricter controls on imported seafood.
If passed, the measure would significantly strengthen federal oversight of imported seafood and other food products, ensuring that contaminated shipments are destroyed and never reach American consumers.