Fish Sold in New York City Routinely Mislabeled: Study

More than half of sampled retailers, restaurants selling fish that could make you sick

Think that halibut or red snapper looks a little fishy? There’s a chance it isn’t what it says on its label! Nearly three in five New York City grocery stores and restaurants that sell fish have mislabeled some of their inventory, substituting varieties that could cause problems for people with allergies, according to a study released Tuesday. The ocean conservation group Oceana says 39 percent of fish obtained for its study was inaccurately identified. Forensic DNA analysis revealed 58 percent of the 81 New York retailers were mislabeling seafood that could pose health risks for consumers. In the study, all but one of the 17 samples of “white tuna” turned out to be escolar, a fish with diarrhea-inducing properties. It’s got a nickname, “ex-lax fish.” (Reuters)

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