We cannot compete with large volumes of Asian clams in any state, especially products from Vietnam such as the catfish farmers had to contend with. Some contend that US shellfish companies have lost significant sales in New York to frozen Vietnamese product. It has been reported that the clams are sold as 200 count bags and delivered for 12 cents per pound!

Fortunately, Vietnam is not in the FDA's list of certified shellfish shippers : so they should not be allowed to ship live clams into the US - only cooked (Cooking is also defined strictly by the FDA, ISSC and HACCP regulations. Not like the "cooked" clams from China that were merely heated enough to shuck them that got dozens sick last year! )
This should prohibit frozen product because shellfish are defined:

Shellfish - All edible species of oysters, clams, mussels, and scallops;* either shucked or in the shell, fresh or frozen, whole or in part.

Freezing alone will not generally eliminate food-born pathogens, so I would presume that frozen Vietnamese clams are entering the US illegally. I would encourage anyone to obtain a copy of some sort of documentation (invoices, receipts, tags (if they have any)) that would prove these clams are from Vietnam and in the US marketplace so that regulatory action can be initiated. If you have this information please contact the ECSGA IMMEDIATELY!

by Brian Peddie, October 2002.