title: High level of mislabeling in Spanish and Greek hake markets suggests the fraudulent introduction of African species.
abstract: DNA analysis of hake products commercialized in southern European (Spanish and Greek) market chains have demonstrated more than 30% mislabeling, on the basis of species substitution. Tails and fillets were more mislabeled than other products, such as slices and whole pieces. African species were substitute species for products labeled as American and European species, and we suggest it is a case of deliberate economically profitable mislabeling because real market prices of European and American hake products are higher than those of African in Spanish market chains. The presented results suggest fraud detection that disadvantages African producers. Government-mandated genetic surveys of commercial hakes and the use of subsequent statements of fair trade on labels of seafood products could help to reduce fraud levels in a global market of increasingly conscious consumers sensitive to ethical issues.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biologia Funcional, Universidad de Oviedo, 33006 Oviedo, Spain. egv@uniovi.es
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Garcia-Vazquez
authors.forename: Juliana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Perez
authors.forename: Jose L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Martinez
authors.forename: Antonio F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Pardiñas
authors.forename: Belen
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lopez
authors.forename: Nikoletta
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Karaiskou
authors.forename: Mary F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Casa
authors.forename: Gonzalo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Machado-Schiaffino
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Triantafyllidis
mesh_terms: D000349:Africa; D000818:Animals; D003257:Consumer Product Safety; D005060:Europe; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis; D005515:Food Labeling / Q000592:standards; D048388:Gadiformes / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D011786:Quality Control; D017747:Seafood / Q000032:analysis* / Q000592:standards