Sushi fraud!

[yendi]

That red snapper sushi you're eating? It's more likely some other fish.

Comments

[tattermuffin.livejournal.com]

That's really interesting - I'm not allergic to talapia (or cod), but I am allergic to red snapper (the one time I had it) which confuses people since it's also white fish. I wonder if the one time I had red snapper it wasn't actually snapper (or talapia which would have been fine) ...

Not sure I care enough to risk another rash to find out though, assuming I could actually be sure I was getting red snapper for the retest!

[rowancat.livejournal.com]

Some supermarkets have been selling "bay" and "sea" scallops for years that are
made by cookie cutting fish with similar colour and texture...
But you can smell the diff if they let you sniff it.

And some mislabel fish too. Surprised sushi places are doing it, they get customers who are supposed to be able to know what they're tasting.

Cost of seafood this year has doubled, i think. Overfishing on a mass scale.

[jmfunnyface.livejournal.com]

Huh, that's really interesting about the scallops because there are times when I buy scallops and I love them, and others when they are the most fishy tasting yucky things I've ever eaten. I got the fishy tasting ones a while ago and haven't bought them from a supermarket since.

[wintersweet.livejournal.com]

Well, the Unification Church is not exactly unfamiliar with fraud, as I recall. :p

[cissa.livejournal.com]

And Marian Nestle, in "What To Eat," had tests done on the wild salmon sold in various places- almost none of which was actually wild salmon, but was instead farmed- sold at 3 times the price.

I am glad that I like tilapia. :)

[litch.livejournal.com]

huh, maybe I do like red snapper, I never dug it the multiple times I've tried it

The ones I like: tuna, salmon, mackeral, all have distinctive flavor and textures, I could easily tell them apart blindfoldede. The nigiri I just mentioned is much more pleasent than most of the other goop I've tried, though everybody with a pair of X's seems to dig eel.

[ldy.livejournal.com]

The Red Snapper section of Rob DeBorde's Fish on a First Name Basis (http://www.amazon.com/Fish-First-Name-Basis-Caught-Cleaned/dp/0312342209/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-3555585-9388928?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1178901621&sr=8-1) begins thus:

I wouldn't buy that if I were you. Why? It's a conspiracy! A plot, perpetrated by the fishermen, processed by the wholesalers, and perpetuated by the man behind the counter. I wouldn't be surprised if the fish were on it. I'm talking about red snapper, of course. Sure, the sign says it's red snapper, but is it? How can you tell? Could be some other snapper, or even a rockfish. Do you really want to lay down a bunch of clams for some phony fish? What? You think just because it's red and has red eyes and tastes like red snapper that it must be red snapper? I suppose you think Roswell acted alone, too, huh? What about aliens in the sewers? Alligator autopsies? Affordable health care? Fine, if you want to buy an overpriced imposter, go right ahead. I won't stop you. Just don't say I didn't warn you. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have other fish to fry.

So I'm not terribly surprised that the poor red snapper is getting the raw end of the deal, um, raw, as well.

Btw, I think you'd like that book. The guy who wrote it writes (I think he's still active on the show, anyway) for Alton Brown. And the book is wonderful reading (even if it only covers 18 fish).