Seafood Fraud and Mislabelling in Ottawa - Oceana Canada

Report | November, 2017

Seafood Fraud and Mislabelling in Ottawa

 

To better understand the extent of seafood fraud in the nation’s capital, Oceana Canada tested restaurants and grocery stores in Ottawa based on their popularity, including among politicians and decision-makers, and their proximity to Parliament Hill, government offices and media headquarters.
 
Highlights include: 
  • Seafood fraud and mislabelling were found in 14 of the 19 different types of fish targeted
  • Restaurants had the highest rates of seafood fraud and mislabelling, with 68 per cent of sushi vendor samples and 51 per cent of non-sushi restaurant samples mislabelled. Eighteen per cent of grocery store samples were mislabelled
  • Seafood fraud and mislabelling were found at 10 of 12 sushi vendors and 16 of 22 restaurants tested, including the most popular and prestigious restaurants and those known for serving sustainable seafood
  • Escolar, known as “the laxative of the sea” can cause acute gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting and nausea, and was found as a common substitute for both white tuna and butterfish.

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