Peterson April M, McBride Gabrielle E, Jhita Seeret K, Hellberg Rosalee S
Chapman University, Schmid College of Science and Technology, Food Science Program, 1 University Drive, Orange, CA, 92866, USA.
Heliyon. 2021 Apr 6;7(4):e06713. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e06713. eCollection 2021 Apr.
Proper labeling of seafood is important to prevent economic deception and protect public health. The goal of this research was to investigate prepackaged frozen fish for Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) compliance, species labeling, net weights/short weighting, and percent glaze. A total of 111 frozen prepackaged fish fillets were purchased from grocery stores in Southern California (USA). Samples were designated as COOL compliant if they displayed both procurement method and country of origin in accordance with COOL requirements. Species labeling was examined by comparing the species identified with DNA barcoding to the acceptable market names provided in the FDA . Net weights and percent glaze were determined by recording the weight of each product before and after deglazing. Of the 111 samples, only 1 was noncompliant with COOL and 10 samples (9%) were short-weighted. The average percent glaze was 5%, with seven samples having >10% glaze. Most fish (95.5%) were correctly labeled with regards to species. Species substitution was discovered in two samples and three samples had unacceptable market names. The results of this study indicate high COOL compliance and minimal species mislabeling in prepackaged frozen fish fillets. However, there is a need for increased focus on short weighting and/or overglazing of frozen fish products.
正确标注海鲜产品标签对于防止经济欺诈和保护公众健康至关重要。本研究的目的是调查预包装冷冻鱼的原产国标签（COOL）合规情况、物种标注、净含量/缺斤少两以及上釉百分比。总共从美国南加州的杂货店购买了111份预包装冷冻鱼片。如果样品按照COOL要求同时展示了采购方式和原产国，则被指定为符合COOL标准。通过将DNA条形码鉴定的物种与美国食品药品监督管理局（FDA）提供的可接受市场名称进行比较，来检查物种标注情况。净含量和上釉百分比通过记录每个产品脱釉前后的重量来确定。在111个样品中，只有1个不符合COOL标准，10个样品（9%）缺斤少两。平均上釉百分比为5%，有7个样品的上釉率超过10%。大多数鱼类（95.5%）的物种标注正确。在两个样品中发现了物种替换，三个样品有不可接受的市场名称。本研究结果表明，预包装冷冻鱼片的COOL合规率高，物种误标情况极少。然而，需要更加关注冷冻鱼产品的缺斤少两和/或过度上釉问题。
