What is the Seafood category? Top brands, safety considerations, EU + US labeling regimes

Sources: European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) + EU Commission DG SANTE · US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN) · Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) + Health Canada · last fetched 2026-10-18

The “Seafood” category includes fresh, frozen, and processed fish, shellfish, and other marine organisms that are sold for direct human consumption. Products range from whole fillets and steaks to canned, smoked, marinated, and ready‑to‑eat items. The category also covers value‑added products such as fish sticks, surimi, and seafood spreads. All forms are subject to food‑safety and labeling requirements that aim to protect consumers from hazards such as microbial contamination, allergens, and mis‑representation of origin or composition.

What this category covers

Seafood products may be:

• Fresh or chilled whole fish, fillets, and portions.
• Frozen whole fish, fillets, and processed items (e.g., fish fingers, breaded seafood).
• Canned or jarred fish and shellfish (e.g., tuna, sardines, mussels).
• Smoked, cured, or marinated seafood.
• Ready‑to‑eat seafood salads, sushi, and seafood pâtés.
• Surimi‑based products and other reconstituted seafood analogues.

Top brands ProductGuru tracks in this category

ProductGuru’s seafood index includes a range of manufacturers and retailers that sell packaged seafood in North America and Europe. Notable entries are:

• Beaver Street Fisheries Inc.
• BEAVER STREET FISHERIES, INC.
• John West
• Tesco
• Lidl
• Carrefour
• Sainsbury’s

Key safety considerations

Regulators focus on several core safety aspects for seafood:

• Microbial hazards: Listeria, Salmonella, Vibrio, and other pathogens are monitored through HACCP plans and routine testing.
• Allergen disclosure: Shellfish are among the major allergens. The EU requires declaration of 14 allergens, the US requires 9, and Canada follows the same list under the Safe Food for Canadians Act.
• Heavy metals and contaminants: Limits for mercury, cadmium, and PCBs are set by EFSA, FDA, and Health Canada and must be reflected in compliance testing.
• Country‑of‑origin labeling (COOL): Accurate origin information helps trace supply chains and supports consumer choice.
• Recall mechanisms: EU recalls are posted in the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF); US recalls appear in the FDA’s Enforcement Reports; Canada uses the CFIA’s Recall Database.

European Union labeling regime

In the EU, seafood labeling is governed by Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 (Food Information to Consumers) together with Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 (General Food Law). The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the European Commission’s DG SANTE oversee compliance. Key obligations include:

• Mandatory nutrition declaration per 100 g or 100 ml, unless the product is exempt (e.g., unprocessed fish sold by weight).
• Allergen list that must highlight shellfish and any added fish proteins.
• Country‑of‑origin statement for fishery products, unless the product is a mixture of species from multiple origins.
• Use of the Nutri‑Score front‑of‑pack label in participating Member States (France, Germany, Spain, etc.).
• Batch or lot identification to enable traceability in case of a RASFF alert.

United States labeling regime

In the United States, seafood labeling follows the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and 21 CFR 101 (Food Labeling). The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), through the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN), enforces these rules. Requirements include:

• Nutrition Facts panel for most packaged seafood, unless the product is exempt as a single‑ingredient raw fish.
• Allergen disclosure for the nine major allergens, which includes crustacean and mollusk shellfish.
• Country‑of‑origin labeling for fish and shellfish, with “Product of” statements required when the product is wholly sourced from a single country.
• Front‑of‑pack labeling schemes are under consultation; no mandatory system exists nationally, though voluntary programs such as the USDA’s “Smart Choices” may appear.
• Recalls are published in the FDA’s Enforcement Reports and the open FDA database.

Canada labeling regime

Canada’s seafood labeling is regulated by the Canada Safe Food for Canadians Act and the Food and Drug Regulations, administered by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Health Canada. Core provisions are:

• Nutrition information must be presented in a standard table unless the product is a single‑ingredient raw fish or shellfish.
• Allergen labeling must identify the 14 allergens recognized in Canada, which include fish and shellfish.
• Country‑of‑origin labeling is mandatory for fish and seafood, with “Product of Canada” or “Imported from …” statements required.
• Front‑of‑pack nutrition symbols are voluntary; Health Canada provides guidance on the use of the “Nutrition Facts” table.
• Recall notices are posted on the CFIA’s Recall Database and linked to the Canadian Consumer Product Safety Act where applicable.

How to check a specific product

To verify compliance for a particular seafood item, follow these steps:

• Locate the product’s barcode (EAN or UPC) on the package.
• Visit the relevant regulator’s public register:
  • EU: Search the RASFF portal (https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/rasff/) for any alerts linked to the product’s name or brand.
  • US: Use the FDA’s enforcement database (https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts) and the open FDA API to query the barcode.
  • Canada: Check the CFIA recall list (https://www.inspection.gc.ca/recalls).
• Enter the barcode into ProductGuru’s product pages:
  • Product details: /p/<ean>
  • Wiki‑style overview: /wiki/<ean>
  (Replace <ean> with the actual numeric code; the URLs resolve automatically.)
• Review the label information displayed on ProductGuru for nutrition facts, allergen statements, and country‑of‑origin claims. Compare these with the regulatory requirements listed above.
• If discrepancies are found, consult the regulator’s contact information for reporting or seek guidance from the brand’s consumer service channel.

Verify on the primary regulator's register

• EU: European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) + EU Commission DG SANTE — Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 (Food Information to Consumers, FIC) + Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 (General Food Law)
• US: US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN) — Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act + 21 CFR 101 (Food Labeling)
• Canada: Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) + Health Canada — Canada Safe Food for Canadians Act + Food and Drug Regulations

Sample products tracked in ProductGuru

• 0002114002640 — product page · wiki view
• 0002114002537 — product page · wiki view
• 0002114001571 — product page · wiki view

Browse all products in this category (Seafood) →

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