New database technology could help eliminate fish fraud

Fish fraud, the misrepresentation of cheaper fish as more expensive ones, is a rampant problem worldwide. Now in a study appearing  in American Chemical Society (ACS)’ Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, scientists report that they are making strides toward the development of a protein database capable of definitively identifying fish species. This information could help nab imposters of salmon, tuna and other popular fish before they reach people’s plates.

Fish can be tagged with misleading names at numerous points along their journey from the docks to processing plants to retail establishments. In fact, some studies suggest that at least one in five seafood samples around the globe are mislabeled.

So, for instance, a consumer could unwittingly be eating rockfish instead of tilapia. This practice is not only hard on the wallet, it also can pose a serious health risk due to exposure to allergens, toxins and parasites found in some substituted fish.

DNA testing can help differentiate between fish species, but it can be costly and time-consuming. Antje Stahl and Uwe Schröder wanted to determine if mass spectrometry, which has been successfully used to differentiate microbial species, could be used to swiftly and accurately identify fish.