A recent national study by the Minderoo Foundation has unveiled a concerning problem with seafood labelling and species substitution in Australia. DNA tests conducted on 672 seafood products from supermarkets, fish markets, and restaurants revealed that 11.8% of the samples did not match their labelled species. Shark and snapper varieties, as well as imported seafood, were found to be most commonly mislabelled.
In Tasmania, a supermarket claiming to sell imported stingray was actually offering critically endangered spotback skate from South America. In Western Australia, a restaurant serving shark turned out to be offering smooth hammerhead, a species globally classified as vulnerable.
Dr. Chris Wilcox of Minderoo emphasized that vague labelling compounded the issue of incorrect labelling. Only 25% of the products specified a particular species, with many using ambiguous terms like “flake” and “snapper.” For example, “flake,” officially referring to gummy shark, was frequently misused to describe various shark meats. Some instances even involved mislabelling critically endangered school shark as battered fish and chips.
Beyond consumer rights, the mislabelling problem has conservation implications. Co-author Emily Harrison noted that Australians are increasingly aware of the need to protect the ocean from unsustainable fishing practices and desire accurate information about seafood to make informed choices.
The results come at a crucial time, as the Australian government is considering measures to prevent the importation of illegal, unreported, and unregulated seafood. Dr. Wilcox emphasized that while mislabelling rates in Australia are comparable to other affluent countries like the United States, it remains a pressing issue that demands attention.
The research findings have been published in the peer-reviewed journal Scientific Reports, shedding light on the need for improved labelling accuracy to align with consumer expectations and conservation efforts.
Source: The Guardian
