A new Texas law effective September 1, 2025, will require restaurants to accurately label the origin of shrimp or face penalties to their operating license.
Most Texas restaurant owners don't realize that a provision buried in SB823 is about to change how they can market shrimp on menus, signage, and to customers. Starting September 1, 2025, restaurants will be banned from labeling or representing imported shrimp as domestic—a practice that has been common in the industry as a cost-saving measure.
Under Section 436.083(c) of SB823, restaurants can no longer use domestic-sounding names, descriptions, or verbal representations for shrimp that was actually imported. This applies whether you're printing menus, updating signage, training staff on verbal descriptions, or advertising online.
The law is straightforward: if your shrimp comes from outside the United States, customers must know that. Misrepresenting the origin is no longer permitted.
Any restaurant in Texas that currently serves imported shrimp needs to take action. This includes full-service restaurants, casual dining establishments, seafood specialists, and any food service operation that purchases shrimp for customer consumption.
If you're unsure whether your shrimp is imported or domestic, check with your supplier now. Most shrimp served in U.S. restaurants is imported, primarily from Southeast Asia, Central America, and South America.
You have two paths forward:
Option 1: Update all representations. Accurately label imported shrimp as imported on menus, signage, and in staff training. This requires updating printed materials, digital menus, point-of-sale systems, and any advertising that describes shrimp dishes.
Option 2: Switch to domestic shrimp. Source shrimp from U.S. waters instead. This eliminates labeling concerns but typically costs more than imported alternatives.
Many restaurants will choose a combination—updating representations for some dishes while sourcing domestic shrimp for signature items.
Violations expose your restaurant's operating license or permit to administrative penalties. These can be imposed by the Texas Department of Health and Human Services, a public health district, county health department, or municipality. The stakes are real: your ability to operate is on the line.
The law takes effect September 1, 2025. The HHSC executive commissioner will adopt detailed rules as soon as practicable after that date. Once rules are published, enforcement can begin.
You don't have to wait for final rules to start preparing. Audit your current shrimp sourcing, review all materials that describe shrimp, and decide whether you'll update labels or change suppliers. The sooner you act, the smoother your transition.
Source: Texas SB823, Section 1, Sec. 436.083(c). For restaurant-specific guidance on compliance, contact your local health department or trade association.