CHICAGO — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Tuesday it is reviewing the results of a multistate investigation that found that shoppers have been paying for large amounts of ice that are not supposed to be included in the price of frozen seafood.
The investigation — conducted by weights- and-measures inspectors in 17 states, including Colorado — found that a coating of ice applied to frozen seafood to preserve quality during storage and distribution was often wrongly included as part of the labeled weight of seafood. In some instances, the investigation found, ice accounted for up to 40 percent of the product’s weight.
“We’re reviewing their results and determining whether FDA should take any action and, if so, what actions should we take,” said Michael Herndon, spokesman for the FDA.
The investigation was prompted by the National Fisheries Institute, a seafood-industry association, over concerns about improper labeling used by some packaging companies.
