Seafood Fraud - is that salmon really wild caught?
is that tuna even tuna?
18% of Supermarket Seafood was found mislabeled!
It took Oceana two years to conduct its second seafood investigation here in the United States.
With the United States being the 2nd largest consumer of seafood, it’s not good that 33% of the 1,200 samples were found to be mislabeled.
Somewhere in the supply chain your fish is being fraudulently mislabeled and the problem is nobody can tell where it's happening.
With the United States being the 2nd largest consumer of seafood, it’s not good that 33% of the 1,200 samples were found to be mislabeled.
Somewhere in the supply chain your fish is being fraudulently mislabeled and the problem is nobody can tell where it's happening.
The focus of Oceana’s study was seafood substitution and they tested seafood at restaurants, sushi joints and retail stores.
The results showed that seafood fraud is showing up nation-wide. It’s a huge problem and nobody knows where in the process (from the boat to the consumer) it’s happening. What we do know is that it’s resulting in cheaper, lower quality food ending up on our plates.
The results showed that seafood fraud is showing up nation-wide. It’s a huge problem and nobody knows where in the process (from the boat to the consumer) it’s happening. What we do know is that it’s resulting in cheaper, lower quality food ending up on our plates.
Results
-Over half of the Sushi Joints studies showed mislabeled fish. 74% to be exact.
-Grocery stores reported results with a bit more integrity, coming in with only 18% being mislabeled.
-Snapper and Tuna were the worst offenders. 87% for the Snapper and 59% for the Tuna.
It's still irritating, but I feel OK knowing that I only eat seafood from retail stores, mainly New Seasons or Whole Foods. 18% is bad, but 74% is simply ridiculous.
-Grocery stores reported results with a bit more integrity, coming in with only 18% being mislabeled.
-Snapper and Tuna were the worst offenders. 87% for the Snapper and 59% for the Tuna.
It's still irritating, but I feel OK knowing that I only eat seafood from retail stores, mainly New Seasons or Whole Foods. 18% is bad, but 74% is simply ridiculous.
State Report
Atlanta, Georgia – only state that sold true red snapper
Portland, Oregon – 21% , more than 25% of retail outlets sold mislabeled fish
-Being from Portland, this is disturbing as I eat fish on a regular basis
SO-CAL – 52% - worst rate in country
New York, New York – tilefish – a fish on FDA do not eat list (mercury), sold as halibut and red snapper
Portland, Oregon – 21% , more than 25% of retail outlets sold mislabeled fish
-Being from Portland, this is disturbing as I eat fish on a regular basis
SO-CAL – 52% - worst rate in country
New York, New York – tilefish – a fish on FDA do not eat list (mercury), sold as halibut and red snapper
common fish substitutions
Alaskan/Pacific Cod >> Atlantic Cod, Tilapia,
Salmon (Wild, King, Sockeye) >> Farmed Atlantic Salmon
Alaskan/Pacific Halibut >> Atlantic Halibut, Blueline Tilefish
White Tuna >> Escolar
Salmon (Wild, King, Sockeye) >> Farmed Atlantic Salmon
Alaskan/Pacific Halibut >> Atlantic Halibut, Blueline Tilefish
White Tuna >> Escolar
| Soo yeah. It's not the end of the world, if you're eating fish regularly, farmed or wild, you'll still be better off than most. With that said, when I'm paying $20/lbs for King Salmon I expect it to be Wild and from the Pacific Ocean. I like to think New Seasons would practice integrity and only purchase from reputable suppliers. The problem is that even if they have the best intentions, they still might be purchasing farmed raised when they think they are buying wild, and the buck gets passed to me... The good news is that with Wild Caught King Salmon you know when it's real...the fat melts like butter in your mouth!!! |  Wild Caught King Salmon |
