According to the report the National Conference on Weights and Measures has announced the findings of a voluntary multi-state investigation. It revealed significant overcharges due to incorrect package weights on some frozen seafood products. The investigation states that out of the seventeen states that participated in the investigation, only Alaska was found to have zero violations.
Dan Breeden, director of the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT&PF), said that for Alaska’s involvement, they tested 82 lots of 14 brands at nine locations with zero violations. Division of Measurement Standards and Commercial Vehicle Enforcement, the state department were involved in the study. Breeden also said that in Alaska the division works with producers, packers, processors, and wholesalers to ensure restaurants, retailers, and customers are not cheated.
Report also informed that the National Fisheries Institute, a seafood industry association, prompted the investigation due to growing concern that reduced funding for weights and measures inspection programs may be tilting the playing field in favor of dishonest businesses. The study also revealed that some packers are including the weight of ice glazing in the labeled weight for the seafood, which is prohibited by state and federal law.
