Sea fish fraud? A confirmation of Gadoid species food labelling
Abstract
Purpose
Gadoid fish and hake are the species of fishes most frequently imported to the Czech Republic. The purpose of this paper, cross-country hygiene study, is to determine sea fish fraud labelling on the Czech market and catering.
Design/methodology/approach
In total, 57 samples of commercial Gadoid fish product from different manufacturers, distributors and catering facilities were gathered. Gadidae family, hake (Merluccius spp. Raf.), saithe (Pollachius virens L.), Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua L.), Alaska pollock (Theragra chalcogramma Pall.), were detected in fish meat, fish products and fish meals by the qualitative PCR method.
Findings
In total, 47 samples were labelled as a Gadoid fish, which were confirmed in 43 cases. Six samples were labelled as a hake and were confirmed in five samples. Four samples were labelled as a fish fillets. Three samples of fish fillets were identified as a hake and one sample was detected as a mixture of Alaska pollock and Atlantic cod.
Social implications
In recent years, due to increasing interest from consumers in the sea fish meat market, accurate Identification of fish species has become more important. The mislabelling of sea fish species, whether intentional or not, was on observed on the Czech market and in catering facilities. Economic factors influence the accuracy of labelling of fish meat, which is a concern as mislabelling can threaten public health.
Originality/value
The study was concentrated on the monitoring of hygiene and quality of food products and catering facilities. This study provides greater awareness of the condition and quality of food on the market and to the extent of fraudulent practices amongst dealers and producers.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This research was supported by Ministry of Health, Czech Republic – conceptual development of research organization (“National Institute of Public Health – NIPH, IN 75010330”). The authors would like to thank Ivana Prochazkova for her technical cooperation.
Citation
Kyrova, V., Surmanova, P., Ostry, V., Rehurkova, I., Ruprich, J. and Jechova, M. (2017), "Sea fish fraud? A confirmation of Gadoid species food labelling", British Food Journal, Vol. 119 No. 1, pp. 122-130. https://doi.org/10.1108/BFJ-03-2016-0113
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2017, Emerald Publishing Limited