Page 24 - AWA Vol.42-No.6 issue

FISHERIES AND FISH FARMING

Something fishy about this fish

Learn about food fraud and the nine ways bought fish could fool you

feit food fraud.
3- The look-alikes: Simulation, on
the other hand, is a product that re-
sembles another product, but without
being an exact copy. In other words,
it is a fake version of the original.
4- The market invaders: When
legitimate products are sold or dis-
tributed outside of their intended
markets, this is called Diversion. Im-
porting fish or other aquatic products
into one country from a country that
is not authorized to export there is
one example.
Fish and aquaculture are a big, To raise consumer awareness of
5- The falsely advertised: Mis-
global business. In 2022, 185 million these types of incidents and push for branding is providing false or mis-
tonnes of fish, shellfish and other increased transparency in the indus- leading information on packaging,
aquatic products were produced and try, the Food and Agriculture Orga- such as incorrect claims about sus-
valued at USD 195 billion. And un- nization of the United Nations (FAO) tainability or organic certification.
fortunately, where there is business, has released the 2026 report, Food
there is inevitably fraud. fraud in the fisheries and aquaculture 6- The market flooding: When
sector, to highlight what is going on products are legitimate but produced
With over 12 000 species traded over established limits, this is called
and the complexity of multiple in- and what is being done about it. Overrun. Overfishing certain spe-
spection authorities across interna- Here are just some of the “fishy” cies and selling the excess produc-
tional supply chains, this is not all to- practices it highlights and encourag- tion outside the regulated channels is
gether shocking. Fraud is especially es consumers to watch out for: one example of this.
prevalent in restaurants and catering 1- The sneaky additions: Adulter-
services, where visual identification ation is the process by which non 7- The substitute: Species substitu-
is challenging, and in processed authentic or fraudulent substances, tion involves replacing a high value
products, where the species identity such as colouring, water or other fill- species with a cheaper one for ex-
can be masked. tra profit. An example of this is sell-
ers, are added to the final product. ing farmed salmon as wild caught or
Species substitution and mislabel- For example, applying additives to substituting red snapper (Lutjanus
ling are the most common forms of tuna to make it look fresher or change campechanus) with tilapia.
fraud, with studies showing that at the colour of the flesh is adulteration.
least 20 percent of fishery and aqua- These fraudulent additions can lead 8- The misinformation: Tampering
culture products globally are misla- to increased risk of illness. and mislabelling occur when a le-
belled. gitimate product and packaging are
2- The dangerous doppelgangers: fraudulently used. This could be, for
Usually driven by economic mo- When all aspects of an original prod- instance, changing the information
tives, fraud nonetheless poses signif- uct are fraudulently replicated and about the expiry date. Mislabelling
icant risks to public health, consum- packaged to make it look like the can include misrepresenting the or-
er trust and marine conservation. original, this is considered Counter- igin or method of production, such as

22 Vol. 42 No. 6