THE FRAUD ON YOUR PLATE: Widespread Seafood Mislabeling Nationwide.

Seafood Fraud Study By Oceana Reveals Widespread Mislabeling Nationwide

Oceana, an international ocean advocacy group, has released a report on national seafood fraud (*.pdf), and the results are disconcerting. The report, which is one of the largest on seafood fraud to date, found that one-third of fish was mislabeled.

Oceana performed DNA testing from 2010 to 2012 on 1,215 fish samples from 674 retail outlets in 21 states. In this study, Oceana found seafood fraud everywhere it tested, with rates hitting as high as 52 percent in Southern California. Here are the full results:

The United States is the second largest seafood-consuming country worldwide (China is number one), and more than 90 percent of the seafood consumed is imported. Less than 1 percent is tested specifically for fraud.

Red snapper and tuna had the highest mislabeling rate across the U.S., at 87 and 59 percent, respectively. Out of the 46 fish types tested, 27 were found to be mislabeled (59 percent). Only seven of the 120 red snapper samples were actually red snapper.

The article continues:

The report found that sushi restaurants have the worst level of mislabeling, at a staggering 74 percent. Thirty-eight percent of seafood at non-sushi restaurants was mislabeled and 18 percent at grocery stores.

“Some of the fish substitutions we found are just disturbing,” said Dr. Kimberly Warner, report author and senior scientist at Oceana, in a press release emailed to The Huffington Post. “Apart from being cheated, many consumers are being denied the right to choose fish wisely based on health or conservation concerns.”

Lovely.

Fraud is everywhere we look.

How broken does something need to be before it all comes crumbling down, I wonder?

Well I would say that is a surprise, but it really isn't. I presume this occurs as a result of some form of cost cutting or from a pure lack of concern.

Fish markets have always been a informal industry in my opinion. What i mean by that is the ratio of large commercial fishers to small private fishers is almost on par for supply of fish. I believe it would be difficult to regulate both large commercial fishing and small private ones.

I thought my sushi tasted a bit funny

Next thing we will see is a report stating the radiation contamination is far higher then previously reported thanks to Fukashima.

reply to post by loam


I suppose we should be grateful they aren't labeling Horse as canned Tuna.

mmmm Horse meat Sushi. yum yum
.

Oh what a system we have created. Is the almighty piece of paper (dollar) so important we must deceive others in order to get a hold of it. I am not surprised, just a little disappointed that there are so many swindlers now a days. Any business that gives value will be successful. Those who deceive will be out of business tomorrow, unfortunately they will incorporate under a new name the next day. Ha. Well at least you can't mislabel vegetables. Yet another reason to go vegetarian. (I am not yet as I still eat meat about twice a week but getting closer everyday, and all these meat and fish scandals help). And please dont tell me Monsanto's scummish self found out a way to make a tomato look like a carrot. Have a great day everyone.

AWA

Sea food is poison
Are you still eating fish? STOP!!!! Have you been paying attention over the past few years? The oil spill witch has had some dramatic after effects, especially after all the corexit that was sprayed and at the moment we are facing radiation from Japan. You know how much water they have used to cool the blocks? Radiation dose not leave. No matter the area you are getting your fish from, fish travel the globe. Next time your at red lobster think about the radiated fish and highly poisonous corexit. Then think about your Govt, you think they would tell you any of this or keep the market going?

reply to post by Infi8nity


In case you haven't been paying attention, so are the rest of all our other proteins.

That leaves grains... Oh, wait. I forgot. That's all hosed too.

I guess it puts real meaning behind the phrase "Pick your poison."

Yum.

Originally posted by loam
reply to post by Infi8nity

 

In case you haven't been paying attention, so are the rest of all our other proteins.

That leaves grains... Oh, wait. I forgot. That's all hosed too.

I guess it puts real meaning behind the phrase "Pick your poison."

Yum.

edit on 22-2-2013 by loam because: (no reason given)

Not as much as this... think about it. they are pouring that sea water directly on the most radiated part of the plant and releasing it back into the sea. Just think about Chernobyl.

I would think eating mutant radiated fish is far more dangerous then eating aspartame. Both cause cancer. Some people eat sea food all the time, especially if you live off the coast. I can only imagine what California is experiencing. Not to far from japan, not to mention the jet stream currents go from Japan to California and Alaska.

It says in the bible that we should not eat any fish without fins and scales. Maybe that was put in there because identifying traits of the fish were needed the same as we need them now. A head would be handy for ID also. The deceivers have been around for thousands of years. This is not a new trait of man.

reply to post by rickymouse


In Europe there was a time where it was a requirement that the fish head remain on the body for sale. That's why there remains such a cultural difference between what you find in European restaurants and American ones. But of course, even that is changing now too.