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Despite new federal rules targeting seafood fraud, a study out Thursday found that one in five fish tested from U.S. restaurants and stores were sold as something different than what the customer received. Southern California cases included flounder being sold as the more expensive halibut, and toothfish, which is off-limits for fishing in some places, being sold as sea bass, according to the survey by the environmental group Oceana. Toothfish is also sold as Chilean seabass but is not a member of the sea bass family. Elsewhere in the country, some mislabeling appeared to be motivated by the desire to sell imported fish as locally sourced. “Seafood fraud ultimately deceives consumers who fall victim to a bait and switch,” said Oceana Deputy Vice President Beth Lowell. |
