DNA Analysis Detects Different Mislabeling Trend by Country in European Cod Fillets

• Published in: Foods
• Main Authors: Frederik Feldmann, Alba Ardura, Carmen Blanco-Fernandez, Eva Garcia-Vazquez
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021
• Subjects: Atlantic cod; barcoding; mislabeling; European markets; Chemical technology; TP1-1185; atlantic cod; Gadus morhua
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.3390/foods10071515; https://doaj.org/article/31e097edd5fc4b9d9a79b6bc48b1fda6

Atlantic cod, Gadus morhua , is a highly appreciated fish in European seafood markets and is one of the most substituted fish species in the world. Fraud have been detected in European markets in the last decade, finding different substitute species sold as G. morhua or Atlantic cod on the label. In this study, we analyzed 252 samples of fresh and frozen cod fillets sold in Germany, the Netherlands, and France using DNA barcoding. Different trends were found in different countries: while the level of mislabeling found in Germany and the Netherlands remained at zero in the last years, a significant increase was found in the French markets comparing the current results with previous studies on fillets in France. On the one hand, this mislabeling proves the need to encourage European efforts to control seafood authenticity; on the other, zero mislabeling in two countries shows the success of current European regulations.