Ch. 353

LAWS OF MARYLAND

WHEREAS, The waters of Maryland team with crab, shellfish,
and fish of many varieties; and

WHEREAS, Maryland's seafood industry is an integral part of
our economy and history; and

WHEREAS, A processed fish paste product, known as surimi, is
manufactured to taste like and appear as crab and other seafood;
and

WHEREAS, The proliferation of surimi, when improperly
identified, threatens to confuse consumers of Maryland's
seafood; and

WHEREAS, The confusion of a processed imitation food product
with the natural bounty of Maryland's waters impugns the
integrity of our seafood industry; now, therefore,

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:

Article - Health - General

21-301.

(L) "SURIMI" MEANS AN INTERMEDIATE MANUFACTURED SEAFOOD
PRODUCT DERIVED FROM MINCED FISH MEAT, WASHED TO REMOVE
WATER-SOLUBLE PROTEIN AND BLOOD OR OTHER UNDESIRABLE COMPONENTS
AND MIXED WITH ADDITIVES, CONTAINING SUGARS OR SODIUM, OR BOTH,
TO ENHANCE ITS FROZEN STORAGE AND FUNCTIONAL CHARACTERISTICS.

21-329.

(A)  UNLESS THE PACKAGING OF A FOOD PRODUCT IS CLEARLY AND
CONSPICUOUSLY LABELED IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBSECTION (C) OF THIS
SECTION, NO FOOD PRODUCT CONTAINING OR CONSISTING OF SURIMI MAY
BE SOLD IN THE STATE.

(B)  UNLESS ALL MENUS AND NOTICES ADVERTISING A FOOD
CONTAINING OR CONSISTING OF SURIMI ARE CLEARLY AND CONSPICUOUSLY
LABELED IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBSECTION (C) OF THIS SECTION, A FOOD
SERVICE FACILITY MAY NOT SERVE THE FOOD IN THE STATE.

(C)  LABELING FOR A FOOD PRODUCT OR FOOD CONTAINING OR
CONSISTING OF SURIMI SHALL INCLUDE 1 OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING
TERMS, AS APPROPRIATE:

(1)   "IMITATION CRAB";

(2)   "IMITATION LOBSTER";

(3)   "IMITATION SCALLOPS";

- 2646 -