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Health

Study: There’s a Good Chance You’re Not Eating the Type of Fish You Actually Ordered

Feb. 21, 2013 10:33pm
Oceana Study Finds 1 in 3 Seafood Samples Mislabeled

(Photo: Shutterstock.com)

A new study is revealing that unless you truly know how your fish is supposed to taste, you might be eating the wrong thing one-third of the time due to mislabeled packaging.

The report by Oceana collected more than 1,200 samples from 674 retail outlets in 21 states. DNA testing revealed that of these samples 33 percent of the time, the food was labeled incorrectly, based on the Food and Drug Administration’s guidelines.

The biggest offenders, according to the report, were snapper (mislabeled 87 percent of the time) and tuna (mislabeled 59 percent). Shockingly, the report found 113 of the 120 red snapper samples were something other than what they claimed to be.

Watch this video about the report’s findings (Note: discussion begins around 0:25):

The mislabeling problem is not entirely new. TheBlaze reported in 2011 on the investigation conducted by the Boston Globe, which found customers were often being sold cheaper varieties of fish under the guise of it being a more expensive type.

“I think it comes down to a restaurant or chef who’s trying to buy something cheaper and jazz it up and call it something else,” Darren Lee Norris, co-owner of Kushi Izakaya & Sushi in Washington, D.C., told the Washington Post.

But not everyone thinks this mislabeling is being done on purpose to cheat customers.

The Post reported Chef Bob Kinkead saying, “It’s not dishonesty. It’s carelessness.”

Mislabeling is not only a money issue either. There are some fish that for health reasons people might want avoid eating.

“Our government has a responsibility to provide more information about the fish sold in the U.S., as seafood fraud harms not only consumers’ wallets, but also every honest vendor and fisherman cheated in the process — to say nothing of the health of our oceans,” Oceana’s website stated.

But the Post noted that agencies like the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which has the ability to test fish DNA, don’t have the personnel capacity to devote more time to this effort. The Post reported that the FDA conducts tests on less than 1 percent of U.S. seafood.

This doesn’t mean that improvements to the system aren’t underway. Here’s more from the Washington Post on some efforts being conducted:

Some are pushing for reforms that would make it harder for chefs, restaurateurs and distributors to mislead the public. Some government officials and companies are pushing for increased traceability, where each fish receives an ID number that is carried over with each invoice, allowing buyers and customers to see where it is caught by logging onto a Web site.

Steve Vilnit, fisheries marketing director for the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, said he has been talking with the state’s fishermen about whether they would adopt such a system.

“Chefs are willing to pay a little more for that level of detail,” Vilnit said, adding the idea has sparked mixed reactions. “Some are very enthusiastic; others just want to do status quo. We’ll probably start out working with a small group of guys and expand it from there.”

Similarly, the FDA approved DNA-barcoding of fish last year to help combat the mislabeling problem as well.

Those heading up the project, dubbed “Barcode for Life,” said at the time they were going to start using this technique in a small, “self-regulating movement” directed toward the higher end trades who might be more likely to want to authenticate quality.

Featured image via Shutterstock.com. 

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Comments (45)

1 2
  • Golfendude
    Posted on February 22, 2013 at 6:56pm

    Isn’t America GREAT NOW….. ?

    The LAND OF THIEVES

    Report this comment

    Golfendude  
  • Elena2010
    Posted on February 22, 2013 at 2:25pm

    Yeah…we need more gov’t regulations…NOT.

    We need jobs. Focus foo’ — it’s the economy stupid.

    Report this comment

    Elena2010  
  • Melika
    Posted on February 22, 2013 at 10:27am

    My tuna comes in a can, so I KNOW what I’m eating.

    Report this comment

    Melika  
  • Libertyluvnmomma
    Posted on February 22, 2013 at 9:22am

    what is nasty is Chilean Seabass.
    Restaurants tout that fish like it is exotic. but it is farmed fish living tightly packed with it’s excrement and the excrement of all the others in a petri of antibiotics. yuck.

    Report this comment

    Libertyluvnmomma  
  • Libertyluvnmomma
    Posted on February 22, 2013 at 9:11am

    I don’t blame them. If the idiots buying this don’t know what real smoked eel or tuna and salmon taste like that’s their problem.
    just cover it in wasabi!

    there’s a sucker born every minute and capitalism needs them.
    (that is not an anti capitalist statement- it’s just true)

    Report this comment

    Libertyluvnmomma  
  • Indymaverick
    Posted on February 22, 2013 at 7:05am

    Tired of restaurants trying to pull a fast one serving Talapia and telling me it`s Grouper.

    Report this comment

    Indymaverick  
    • Inform
      Posted on February 22, 2013 at 9:20am

      Talapia is the most disgusting fish. Its funny though how some restaurants try to advertise it like it is a good thing.

      Report this comment

      Inform  
    • stumpy68
      Posted on February 22, 2013 at 10:11am

      I watched a show where they were raising
      Talapia in a tank with other fish so they
      could eat the feces of the other fish.
      in my opinion most farm raised fish aren’t fit to eat
      overcrowding leads to a whole host of problems.

      Report this comment

      stumpy68  
    • battles
      Posted on February 22, 2013 at 10:41am

      I read several years ago that Talapia has absolutely NONE of the good cholesterol that comes from other fish and is CRAMMED FULL of bad cholesterol that is found in fish. Stay away from Talapia.

      Report this comment

      battles  
  • PlanetReality
    Posted on February 22, 2013 at 6:35am

    What a mess!!! what a dysfunction of unbalance!!!!!

    Report this comment

    PlanetReality  
  • media-bias-steals-elections
    Posted on February 22, 2013 at 6:27am

    There’s a much better chance you are not eating a restaurant becuase they don’t take food stamps?

    Report this comment

    media-bias-steals-elections  
  • DougHuffman
    Posted on February 22, 2013 at 6:24am

    I found escolar properly labeled in Michigan and a small serving was delicious, its side-effects confirmed the identification.

    Tilapia is trash fed trash fish for the credulous.

    Report this comment

    DougHuffman  
  • Eastinfection
    Posted on February 22, 2013 at 6:13am

    That’s what she said.

    Report this comment

    Eastinfection  
  • yazoo
    Posted on February 22, 2013 at 4:07am

    Several years ago I took my new wife to Destin,Fla. to go offshore fishing for Snapper and Grouper. Yes, we could have purchased fish at a lower price. That’s what my wife believed until we cooked some of the catch that night. Now she understands that there is absolutely no comparison between the taste of freshly cought fish and fish from even the best fish market. So whether it’s from a local river, a lake, or a pond go fishing.

    Report this comment

    yazoo  
  • 50Caliber
    Posted on February 22, 2013 at 2:57am

    Ahhhhh… the ubiquitous “Patagonia Tooth fish” a rather pedestrian entry, but we pay big bucks for it because its called “Chilean Sea Bass”. Here in Cincinnati fly over Country we also have something called “Jack Salmon” which only exists in the fertile minds of those who sell it.

    Report this comment

    50Caliber  
  • Nabuquduriuzhur
    Posted on February 22, 2013 at 2:02am

    I quit eating Skippers fish when they changed from cod to something much stronger in flavor.

    Report this comment

    Nabuquduriuzhur  
    • SUNTZU
      Posted on February 22, 2013 at 2:17am

      Cant tell the difference between
      Ohio river sucker fish and a Mississippi river

      panty trout.

      Report this comment

      SUNTZU  
  • watashbuddyfriend
    Posted on February 22, 2013 at 1:54am

    Do you have any idea what kind of food (meat) you are getting when you eat in an Oriental restaurant in these United States?

    It is getting to where you have to prepare all of your food at home, including veggies, and fish, and meat, but still not sure.

    Report this comment

    watashbuddyfriend  
  • Rowgue
    Posted on February 22, 2013 at 12:59am

    This isn’t exactly news. Anyone who knows their fish knew this and it’s not new, it’s been happening forever. Most of it isn’t malicous though, it’s simply ignorance.

    Report this comment

    Rowgue  
  • sparkyrules
    Posted on February 22, 2013 at 12:07am

    Crawdads are always yummy.The occasional catfish is alright.Nothing beats a crappie,bluegill or small mouth bass in the frying pan,thats for sure.
    A cleaned ground hog on the side is nice.Dark meat,smothered in onions and Lawrys seasoning.Pork has nothing on a fat tasty ground hog.

    Report this comment

    sparkyrules  
  • tzion
    Posted on February 22, 2013 at 12:00am

    This is hardly a new phenomenon. Those of us who keep kosher are quite aware of this because of the danger of passing a non-kosher fish off as a kosher one. Salmon is generally safe since it has a very distinct color, but many other species are far harder to distinguish between. That’s why kosher fish is almost always sold with at least some skin since one can determine if the fish is kosher from the scales.

    Report this comment

    tzion  
  • 4xeverything
    Posted on February 21, 2013 at 11:30pm

    If my tuna isn’t tuna then what’s the point in anything anymore?

    Report this comment

    4xeverything  
    • RIDEMODELS
      Posted on February 22, 2013 at 1:21am

      I know many times that “The cousin of the Grouper” is actually Tilapia…..Some times Mahi Mahi is not actually the real deal, which is a big price difference……I was pulled in one time with my friends boat by an old couple that fished a large lake close to a power plant, they had a boat full of Nile Perch(Tilapia) they told me they sold it for $2 a pound but would not tell me who, now my suspicions are correct……Throw out a cast net and bring in the suckers, sounds like the life for me….Until Obumble destroys power plants for evilness…..Dang Blast you Evil Obumble..!!

      Report this comment

      RIDEMODELS  
  • marine249
    Posted on February 21, 2013 at 11:26pm

    I realy don’t care, as long as its catfish.

    Report this comment

    marine249  
    • ICSPADES
      Posted on February 22, 2013 at 6:07am

      Me either, just don’t change the hush puppies. I thought it was fish until I was eight even though every one was telling me no.

      Report this comment

      ICSPADES  
  • LimaBean
    Posted on February 21, 2013 at 11:19pm

    Hubby’s a fisherman. I know the kind of figh he brings home. Don’t usually order seafood in restaurants.

    Report this comment

    LimaBean  
    • DADDYWOREAWHITEHAT
      Posted on February 22, 2013 at 1:29am

      @limabean. I hear ya.
      Our sons are spoiled or educated depending on your view. We took them fishing lots so they know what fresh fish tastes like. So now when a restaurant claims to serve fresh fish they will call them out. If they claim it is snapper they will call them out. Some people can’t tell the difference so I guess it doesn’t matter to them. If you fish you know that’s all I’m sayin.

      Report this comment

      DADDYWOREAWHITEHAT  
    • RIDEMODELS
      Posted on February 22, 2013 at 1:30am

      Is it fileted before you get it??….Do you know??….Do you know really??…..Icelanders main source of food is fish and they are one of the healthiest in the world.

      Liberals are the least healthiest cause they all smoke crack, even though crack is whack.

      Report this comment

      RIDEMODELS  
  • WINNEBAGOMAN
    Posted on February 21, 2013 at 11:18pm

    This is one of the few examples of how government regulation (USDA) does some good.

    There you go Progressives. I admitted it. Not ALL government is bad.

    Now get out from between me and my doctor!

    Report this comment

    WINNEBAGOMAN  
    • RIDEMODELS
      Posted on February 22, 2013 at 1:27am

      I have no idea who the FDA head is or the sugeon general for that matter…….This Gov supposedly can do no wrong…….and besides there are a lot of dirty infiltrators that have started restaurants in this country, the Demorats will not shut down Juanitas Flatas for nothing…..But there is a bug inspector up the **** of every Chilis and Outback……Wat tha..!!…..I like Chilis baby back baby back baby back…..Start with a full inspection of all restauranteurs you over paid under educated Gestapo Pigs..!!

      Report this comment

      RIDEMODELS  
  • HOOT_OWL
    Posted on February 21, 2013 at 11:05pm

    GO FISH..!

    Crawdad Song
    You get a line and I’ll get a pole, Honey,
    You get a line and I’ll get a pole, Babe.
    You get a line and I’ll get a pole,
    We’ll go fishin’ in the crawdad hole,
    Honey, Baby mine.

    Sittin’ on the bank ’til my feet get cold, Honey,
    Sittin’ on the bank ’til my feet get cold, Babe,
    Sittin’ on the bank ’til my feet get cold,
    Lookin’ down that crawdad hole,
    Honey, Baby mine.

    Yonder comes a man with a sack on his back, Honey,
    Yonder comes a man with a sack on his back, Babe,
    Yonder comes a man with a sack on his back,
    Packin’ all the crawdads he can pack,
    Honey, Baby mine.

    The man fell down and he broke that sack, Honey,
    The man fell down and he broke that sack, Babe,
    The man fell down and he broke that sack,
    See those crawdads backing back,
    Honey, Baby mine.

    I heard the duck say to the drake, Honey,
    I heard the duck say to the drake, Babe,
    I heard the duck say to the drake,
    There ain’t no crawdads in this lake,
    Honey, Baby mine.

    Report this comment

    HOOT_OWL  
  • 13th Imam
    Posted on February 21, 2013 at 10:58pm

    Guess not getting the type of fish you order is kinda being Scrod. Ever caught a scrod?

    Report this comment

    13th Imam  
  • civilwarcometh
    Posted on February 21, 2013 at 10:55pm

    I bet the trolls are hate this more than i do lol.. http://dailycaller.com/2013/02/21/illinois-state-senator-pushes-anti-anonymity-bill/

    Report this comment

    civilwarcometh  
  • sparkyrules
    Posted on February 21, 2013 at 10:50pm

    Catch your own.Fillet it and eat it.
    You’d be surprised how good a fresh American bluegill tastes.

    Report this comment

    sparkyrules  
    • Xanderson
      Posted on February 21, 2013 at 11:02pm

      So just like cars, each and every filet-o-fish now sold in the US is required to display its FIN :D

      Report this comment

      Xanderson  
    • objectivetruth
      Posted on February 22, 2013 at 2:19pm

      I ate them every week growing up.Well almost every week.Yum.Dang it now I have a craving for some.

      Report this comment

      objectivetruth  
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