Want to know where your catfish came from?

Feb. 19– A new survey of Tennessee residents shows an overwhelming majority of consumers want to know where their catfish comes from.

According to the survey by the Catfish Institute, 93 percent of respondents support legislation that would require Tennessee restaurants to inform consumers about the origin of the catfish served.

Moreover, 95 percent of survey respondents said restaurants should be made to follow the same federal labeling laws governing grocery stores.

Catfish Institute President Roger Barlow said the survey proves what producers claim–consumers want to know the origin of their food.

"Tennessee is a major consumer of U.S. farm-raised catfish," said Barlow. "With nearly 70 percent of that consumption happening in restaurants, that leaves the majority of catfish consumers with no way of knowing where the catfish they eat is produced."

U.S. law requires that seafood sold in grocery stores display the product’s origin, but there is no federal legislation requiring such a disclosure for restaurants.

In recent years, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana have all acted to require "country of origin" labeling.

"Tennesseans know that U.S. farmers provide the healthiest food the world has to offer," said Barlow.

The nonprofit Catfish Institute, based in Jackson, Miss., said the survey carries a margin of error of plus-or-minus 5.6 percent and was conducted by CCI Research of Montgomery, Ala., on Jan. 18-27.

The organization is dedicated to promoting the U.S. farm-raised catfish industry and funded the survey.