bugman
07-05-2004, 07:48 AM
Species label scam reeled in
By Kelvin Bissett
May 5, 2004
UP to one quarter of all fish sold in Australia may be deceptively labelled as the wrong species, according to a national survey using DNA evidence.
Labels on fish might not always accurately describe their subject.
According to the findings, the duping of consumers is rife in restaurants and cafes, where what you ate was what you ordered on just 64.2 per cent of occasions.
Research by Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) in conjunction with state health agencies concluded fish substitution is widespread across the nation.
The pilot survey tested DNA markers – which do not break down in the cooking process and are highly accurate – to check fish authenticity.
The research was based on almost 200 raw and cooked samples from food outlets, seafood shops and wholesale locations.
The fish samples were purchased covertly.
Fish samples were correctly labelled in only 76.8 per cent of samples.
The survey focused on raw and uncooked fillets of red emperor, barramundi and western dhufish (not related to the east and southern coast jewfish).
Restaurants, cafes and other food service establishments had the highest rate of deception, with only 64.2 per cent serving the fish they claimed to serve.
The highest level of compliance was from wholesale outlets, where 88.9 per cent of fish samples were found to be properly labelled.
For the individual fish species, red emperor was as correctly billed in just 58.8 per cent of samples sold in both seafood markets, restaurants and cafes.
When listed on the menu in a restaurant or cafe, it was correct on only 31.3 per cent of occasions.
Barramundi samples had a comparatively high (86.8 per cent) authenticity in restaurants, although sometimes the variations of barramundi were wrong.
The dhufish samples were collected only in Western Australia and only 53.8 per cent turned out to be dhufish.
The FSANZ said the results were "indicative of problems in consistently and correctly indentifying the species of fish at all levels of the food supply".
NSW Minister for Fisheries and Agriculture Ian Macdonald responded to the survey yesterday with plans for a fresh crackdown on fish substitution.
Mr Macdonald said it was important to recognise the small size of the sample, but even so, the issue "needs to be addressed".
Under the new regime, individuals can be fined $55,000 while corporations face penalties of $255,000.
The Daily Telegraph
By Kelvin Bissett
May 5, 2004
UP to one quarter of all fish sold in Australia may be deceptively labelled as the wrong species, according to a national survey using DNA evidence.
Labels on fish might not always accurately describe their subject.
According to the findings, the duping of consumers is rife in restaurants and cafes, where what you ate was what you ordered on just 64.2 per cent of occasions.
Research by Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) in conjunction with state health agencies concluded fish substitution is widespread across the nation.
The pilot survey tested DNA markers – which do not break down in the cooking process and are highly accurate – to check fish authenticity.
The research was based on almost 200 raw and cooked samples from food outlets, seafood shops and wholesale locations.
The fish samples were purchased covertly.
Fish samples were correctly labelled in only 76.8 per cent of samples.
The survey focused on raw and uncooked fillets of red emperor, barramundi and western dhufish (not related to the east and southern coast jewfish).
Restaurants, cafes and other food service establishments had the highest rate of deception, with only 64.2 per cent serving the fish they claimed to serve.
The highest level of compliance was from wholesale outlets, where 88.9 per cent of fish samples were found to be properly labelled.
For the individual fish species, red emperor was as correctly billed in just 58.8 per cent of samples sold in both seafood markets, restaurants and cafes.
When listed on the menu in a restaurant or cafe, it was correct on only 31.3 per cent of occasions.
Barramundi samples had a comparatively high (86.8 per cent) authenticity in restaurants, although sometimes the variations of barramundi were wrong.
The dhufish samples were collected only in Western Australia and only 53.8 per cent turned out to be dhufish.
The FSANZ said the results were "indicative of problems in consistently and correctly indentifying the species of fish at all levels of the food supply".
NSW Minister for Fisheries and Agriculture Ian Macdonald responded to the survey yesterday with plans for a fresh crackdown on fish substitution.
Mr Macdonald said it was important to recognise the small size of the sample, but even so, the issue "needs to be addressed".
Under the new regime, individuals can be fined $55,000 while corporations face penalties of $255,000.
The Daily Telegraph