South Carolina restaurants, food trucks and cafeterias that serve imported shrimp now need a new sign.
A state law that took effect Oct. 28 requires any business selling ready-to-eat food that serves foreign imported shrimp to post a disclaimer on its menu, if it has one, and on a sign visible at its main entrance. Gov. Henry McMaster signed the bill, H. 4248, on June 30, and it took effect 120 days later, according to the Legislature’s records.
Places that serve both domestic and imported shrimp must post this notice: “Some items served at this establishment may contain foreign imported shrimp. Ask for more information.” Places that serve only imported shrimp must use the same wording without “may.” The law defines domestic shrimp as shrimp caught and landed in state or U.S. waters, and restaurants that serve only domestic shrimp need no disclaimer.
The S.C. Department of Agriculture enforces the law. A first violation brings a warning and three days to fix it. After that, the department can fine a restaurant $100 to $5,000 for each day the violation occurs, the law says.
Inspectors will check during unannounced routine inspections and complaint investigations and may ask for supplier invoices, bills of lading or packaging to verify where the shrimp came from, the department said in guidance to restaurants. A temporary sticker or menu insert is acceptable until new menus are printed, and businesses that sell only raw shrimp are not covered, according to the guidance.
The law followed testing paid for by the Southern Shrimp Alliance, an industry trade group, that found only four of 44 Charleston-area restaurants checked in 2025 were serving wild-caught shrimp, The Post and Courier reported. A retest in February still found 77% of the restaurants tested serving imported shrimp, WCSC Live 5 reported.
“You come to Charleston, you should get what you think you’re eating,” McClellanville shrimper Rocky Magwood told ABC News 4.
