Ella Scott
Analysts have uncovered a so-called ‘scandal’ impacting fish and chip shops across the north west, warning customers that what is listed on the menu may not be what they end up digging into.
Previously published statistics suggest that around 380 million meals are doled out annually by fish and chip shops in Britain.
And while some of us love tucking into a battered sausage, a cheese and onion pie, or a Yorkshire fishcake if you’re in the right place at the right time, others believe a fresh piece of haddock and cod served with chips remains supreme.
However, the BBC has reported that some merchants are trying to cut costs, passing off other fish cuts as the Friday protein night staples.
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According to a new study, a species of catfish known as pangasius or river cobbler, is currently being sold at chippes in Manchester.
However, customers aren’t being informed that they’re chomping down on the Southeast Asian import, which violates UK food laws, as per the publication.
Experts took fish samples from five businesses in Liverpool and five in Manchester.
Three of the chip shops reportedly listed cod; four said they sold haddock; three listed their item as fish, reportedly claiming it was ‘normal fish’ or ‘white fish’.
DNA testing at Liverpool John Moores University revealed that all three takeaways that said they just sold ‘fish’ were actually selling catfish.
The results came after Professor Stefano Mariani, who oversaw the tests with his colleague Catherine Perfect, employed DNA barcoding to identify the species.
Speaking about discovering the tropical freshwater catfish, Prof. Mariani said: “In my experience with fish and chips, three out of 10 is quite a lot - I don't recall seeing this level of catfish.”
"It is very difficult for a member of the public that is not a trained fish biologist to identify one fillet from another.”
Unfortunately, it can be ‘very difficult’ for a member of the public who is not a trained fish biologist to identify one fillet from another, according to Prof. Mariani.
This means you could be getting duped, and be none the wiser.
The good news is that eating catfish isn’t bad for you, as there is ‘nothing wrong with it’, as per Andrew Crook, president of the National Federation of Fish Friers.
The businessman continued: “When you go and get fish and chips most people expect a marine species, so cod, haddock or plaice.
"I think if you've got something that's farmed, like pangasius, as long as it's advertised as such that's fine.
"It's when it's being sold at a cod price that's a problem and shops need to be careful about doing that."
He added that chip shops should be listing the species on their menus.
"As an industry, we've got to have the trust of the general public.”