October 26, 2012 — Of the 27 fish samples purchased at Ralphs, Sprouts, Pavilions, Gelsons, Whole Foods, San Pedro Fish Market and Sushi Yuzu, five were not correctly labeled. In fact, only two stores sold NBC LA samples that were 100 percent correctly labeled: Whole Foods and San Pedro Fish Market.
It's easy to identify the bright orange flesh of raw salmon, or tuna's muted red tones. But when it comes to other types of fish, consumers are pretty much at the mercy of supermarket and restaurant labels, and fraud is rampant.
That's what NBC LA's Get Garcia hidden camera investigation found when it DNA-tested samples of fish that were purchased from local stores and sushi restaurants.
Of the 27 fish samples purchased at Ralphs, Sprouts, Pavilions, Gelsons, Whole Foods, San Pedro Fish Market and Sushi Yuzu, five were not correctly labeled. In fact, only two stores sold NBC LA samples that were 100 percent correctly labeled: Whole Foods and San Pedro Fish Market.
The substitutions, like the Ocean Perch fish that had been labeled "Red Snapper" at Gelsons, Ralphs and Pavilions end up ripping off consumers. Ocean Perch costs $6.99 per pound, but Red Snapper retails for $14.99 a pound, NBC LA points out.
In addition to the ripoff, mislabeling could also cause problems for people trying to avoid certain kinds of fish for health reasons.
Read the full story on the Huffington Post