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| Graph courtesy of Oceana |
Lately the news has filled with reports of wide concern voiced over revelations that DNA samples identified 1% horse meat in products sold as beef throughout the European union. A recently announced study by the ocean protection non profit Oceana addressees a similar situation with seafood being mislabeled in the United States.
Using U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines, DNA testing found that one-third (33 percent) of 1,215 samples analyzed were mislabeled. The report revealed that of 120 sample of Red Snapper tested, only 7 were actually Red Snapper. The remaining 113 were some other fish.
Oceana's recent blog post concludes, "Our findings demonstrate that a comprehensive and transparent traceability system – one that tracks fish from boat to plate – must be established at the national level. At the same time, increased inspection and testing of our seafood, specifically for mislabeling, and stronger federal and state enforcement of existing laws combating fraud are needed to reverse these disturbing trends."
Further resources:
Read Christopher Mim's Atlantic blog post 59% of the 'Tuna' Americans Eat Is Not Tuna
Read Highlights from Oceana's National Seafood Fraud Testing Results
Watch Oceana's short video "Oceana Seafood Fraud B-Roll Footage" below
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