Chilean Salmon Sushi: Genetics Reveals Product Mislabeling and a Lack of Reliable Information at the Point of Sale

Abstract

Species diagnosis is essential to assess the level of mislabeling or misnamed seafood products such as sushi. In Chile, sushi typically includes salmon as the main ingredient, but species used are rarely declared on the menu. In order to identify which species are included in the Chilean sushi market, we analyzed 84 individual sushi rolls sold as “salmon” from sushi outlets in ten cities across Chile. Using a polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism protocol (PCR-RFLP), we identified mislabeled and misnamed products. Atlantic salmon was the most common salmonid fish used in sushi, followed by coho salmon, rainbow trout, and Chinook salmon. We found a total of 23% and 18% of the products were mislabeled and misnamed, respectively. In 64% of cases, the salesperson selling the product could not identify the species. We also identified the use of wild-captured Chinook salmon samples from a naturalized population. Our results provide a first indication regarding species composition in Chilean sushi, a quantification of mislabeling and the level of misinformation declared by sales people to consumers. Finally, considering that Chinook salmon likely originates from a non-licensed origin and that sushi is an uncooked product, proper identification in the food production chain may have important consequences for the health of consumers.