True World Awarded As “Grade-A” Tuna Supplier By US Commerce Dept ff

By Atuna

True World Foods LLC says it has achieved U.S. Department of Commerce “Grade-A” certification for its fresh and frozen tuna and salmon products.

New Jersey-based True World is a wholesaler and distributor of tuna and a full line of other seafood products to more than 8.000 restaurants, hotels and other foodservice customers across North America.

Unlike Food Drugs Administration’s danger analysis and critical control point (HACCP) program, which is a mandatory inspection required by law, the Grade-A inspection program is voluntary and demands a much more rigorous level of compliance and commitment.

Once a satisfactory survey has been conducted, the inspected entity earns the right to use official marks on their products, such as the Grade-A certification. “We strongly feel that earning the USDC U.S. Grade-A mark is very important, since it signifies that our products meet the highest quality established by applicable U.S. Grade Standards as determined by the USDC,” said spokeswoman Debbie Pike.

In March, True World was ordered to pay $60.000 (€34.400) for its role in purchasing and reselling falsely labeled frozen fish fillets in violation of the Lacey Act.

The company forfeited $197.930 (€126.796), the purchase value of the fish, and consent a plea agreement to publish a full-page advertisement regarding this incident in a seafood industry publication of wide circulation. True World admitted it falsely labeled Vietnamese catfish as sole.