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FDA States that "White Roughy" not Acceptable Market Name for Basa. NFI received a letter from FDA this past week clarifying the agency's policy for the use of the term "white roughy" for basa fish.
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In a letter to NFI, FDA clarified the agency’s policy for the use of the term “white roughy” for basa. FDA believes that marketing basa or any other fish in the Pangasiidae family as “white roughy” is misleading to the consumer. Fish known as “roughies” such as “orange roughy” are classified differently from Basa and command a higher value in the marketplace. Misleading fish names violate the U.S. Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act.
The headlines are everywhere; Fish Tale Has DNA Hook, DNA testing uncovers suspect sushi, Expensive fish mislabeled. Is it culinary fraud or an accident? Some serious science appears to have exposed fraud at the fish market. Fish sold as one species when they were not that species at all.
There is little doubt at least some of the mislabeling has to do with the fact that fish are often called different things in different places. But the rest? I think NFI President John Connelly put it best when he said, "Some people call it species substitution. I have another name for it... fraud."
There is, however, a silver lining to this story. It would appear that industry press and mainstream media are getting the message that the Better Seafood Bureau exists and is an important resource. What's more they are passing that message along.
Grocery publications reported the story and highlighted the fact that efforts were underway to "reminding retailers to procure from Better Seafood Bureau (BSB) member companies, as a way to weed false marketing out of the market." While Canada's Globe and Mail newspaper touted BSB members as "reputable representatives" of the seafood industry who welcome technology aimed at "ferreting out false marketing."
Responsible journalists are writing about this story and including in their reporting the fact that members of the seafood community are actively engaged in fighting this type of fraud.
You may be asking – Why a blog? Or – How does a blog fight seafood fraud? Well we certainly don’t expect this blog to single-handedly eliminate seafood fraud, but it does provide a collection point for commentary on fraud – in other words, a showcase for the good, the bad and the ugly. It is our way to pass along items of interest that help to educate and persuade the powers that be (whether they be our partners in the seafood supply chain or government agencies) that seafood fraud is very real and needs to be stopped. So check back often to see what we have to say in our fight against seafood fraud.
