Fake sushi is taking over and can make you sick, experts say heres how to tell real from bogus

People are getting catfished — literally.Experts warn that when it comes to sushi, what you sea is often not what you get — with the US clocking in as one of the world’s biggest fish forgers.Studies have shown that cheaper fish alternatives are being mislabeled and masqueraded as salmon, tuna, snapper and other top-shelf raw seafood — with the cost-cutting counterfeits almost impossible to spot after the sushi’s been sliced and served.In the US, snapper, salmon, prawns, tuna — popular fish in sushi and sashimi — are the most commonly mislabeled.“Because mislabelling rates depend on the species, if consumers want to avoid mislabelling then they should avoid certain species and prioritize others,” Dr.Marine Cusa, a marine biologist and policy expert from the Technical University of Denmark, told the Daily Mail.Oftentimes, the frighteningly common practice isn’t even malicious.According to the pros, it’s normal to label and sell fish under more generic names — to avoid confusing buyers.

For example, fish labeled “tuna” could be one of 68 different species, the outlet stated.In general, the more coveted the species is as sushi, the more likely it is to be forged.According to a 2018 study, the most commonly swapped fish in the US and Canada is snapper.A common substitute is tilapia, which is cheap and widely available given that it is raised via aquaculture around the globe, the Independent reported.Tuna also saw high rates of deep-fakery.

Research from 2018 showed that out of 545 tuna samples in six European countries, 6.7% of them were from an entirely different species than what was advertised on the labels.Mislabelling of Atlantic Bluefin tuna — a prized sushi fish — could be as high as 100 percent, depending on the country.Tiger prawns, meanwhile, were the most mislabeled seafood in the US, according to a 2020 Harvard Study, per the Daily Mail.Following close behind was farmed Atlantic Salmon, which is often sold under the guise ...