Latest reviewed evidence
USDA AMS Supplement 511, revised July 22, 2024, defines one federal-purchase product as raw, unbreaded, individually quick frozen fillet portions from U.S. farm-raised channel, blue or white catfish and their hybrids. It specifies a 4.0-ounce target portion with 3.0- and 5.0-ounce quality-assurance limits, 40-pound cases and a 38,000-pound delivery unit. These figures describe that named U.S. procurement specification, not every commercial catfish product, a test result for an unverified lot, current supply or price.
USDA farm-raised frozen catfish target portion weight
4
ounces · Supplement 511 effective July 2024
USDA farm-raised frozen catfish lower portion limit
3
ounces · Supplement 511 effective July 2024
USDA farm-raised frozen catfish upper portion limit
5
ounces · Supplement 511 effective July 2024
USDA farm-raised frozen catfish shipping-container weight
40
pounds net weight · Supplement 511 effective July 2024
USDA farm-raised frozen catfish delivery-unit weight
38000
pounds net weight · Supplement 511 effective July 2024
FSIS minimum raw Siluriformes share for multi-ingredient jurisdiction
3
percent raw fish, unless exempt · FSIS Siluriformes inspection guidance reviewed 2026-09-14
Species, market name and production method come before comparison
FSIS states that in the United States the term catfish applies exclusively to fish in the Ictaluridae family, while its Siluriformes inspection material separately identifies Pangasianodon hypophthalmus as swai, striped pangasius or tra and Pangasius bocourti as basa. USDA's farm-raised purchase specification names channel catfish, blue catfish, white catfish and their hybrids. Atlas retains the scientific species, market name, farmed or wild production method, origin and competent authority rather than merging all Siluriformes or similar white-fish products under a generic catfish label.
Whole fish, fillets, strips and prepared products are separate
A live or whole fish, headed and gutted fish, skin-on or skinless fillet, shank or portion fillet, strip, breaded item and cooked preparation have different yields, defects, units, processing, classifications and values. The USDA July 2024 document itself maintains separate specifications for farm-raised unbreaded fillets, breaded strips and wild-caught fillets. Atlas preserves product form, cut, skin and bone state, fresh or frozen condition, added solution, glaze, portion tolerance, pack and net-weight basis before comparing evidence.
Inspection, residues, cold chain and traceability travel with the lot
FSIS requires Siluriformes processors in U.S. wholesale commerce to operate under its inspection framework and identifies product name, ingredients where applicable, establishment and inspection marks, handling statement, quantity, responsible firm, country of origin and safe-handling information among labeling fields. The USDA procurement specification requires continuous FSIS inspection, lot-linked traceability, production date, metal detection and shipment temperature not above 0 degrees Fahrenheit for its frozen fillets. FDA separately identifies animal-drug residues as a primary aquaculture hazard. Atlas attaches each compliance statement, residue test, temperature record and certificate to the actual establishment, lot, method and date.
Procurement specifications do not establish a delivered catfish price
The 4-ounce target portion, 3-to-5-ounce tolerance, 40-pound case and 38,000-pound delivery unit are defined for a dated USDA purchase product. They do not establish current inventory, recovery yield, commercial grade, destination eligibility or value for another species, cut, pack or origin. A delivered estimate still needs permitted current observations for the exact species and product form, establishment and inspection status, lot-linked quality and residue evidence, package and quantity, currency, Incoterm, destination, delivery window, cold-chain and freight evidence and information vintage. Atlas withholds a physical estimate when those observations or usage rights are missing.