I read this article (source: http://www.fishupdate.com/m/fullstory.php/aid/18991/Health_firm_warns_fish_fraud_could_have_fatal_consequences.html) with interest because we really have deviated from fresh whole foods. So much of our food now come cut, filleted and packaged, that we no longer know what animal it came from and where. It might pay to buy whole fish from your local fish monger and learn to eat fish with bones.
Health firm warns fish fraud could have fatal consequences
THE ongoing controversy over fish mislabelling in the United States has taken a new twist with a warning from one of America’s leading health supplement providers that such fraud could have fatal consequences.
Bel Marra Health, which offers formulated vitamins and nutritional supplements, says a new study on the scandal is giving very real cause for concern because it could lead to sickness.
A recent study from Oceana shows that many retailers and restaurants regularly mislabel fish products that they sell to consumers.
This is cause for concern as consuming mislabelled food products can lead to sickness and emergency situations for some unsuspecting individuals, including you. The level of fraud includes swapping one species for another (usually inferior and cheaper) variety, false information on the labels and short weight.It is also happening on a grand scale. Oceana found that 39 per cent of the 142 samples they collected from supermarkets and restaurants were falsely labelled.
Dr. Victor Marchione, a spokesperson for Bel Marra Health, said: “Mislabelling of fish products is not only deceitful, it is also potentially deadly. A significant cause for concern with mislabelled fish products is that seafood products are a top allergen for many individuals. Sickness that is related to allergens is often species specific; therefore, the swapping of one species for another can lead to a dangerous, emergency situation for certain individuals.”
For example, if a person is allergic to perch and they think they are buying red snapper they wouldn’t expect to run into a problem. However, perch is often substituted in place of red snapper, leading to a potential emergency if it’s consumed by the wrong person.
