Call it bait and switch, but something’s fishy in the New York seafood industry. According to a recent study, over one fourth of the seafood found in New York supermarkets are mislabeled, and what’s inside the package is almost always a cheaper species than what’s on the label.

A recent study conducted by the New York OAG, entitled “Fishy Business: Seafood Fraud and Mislabeling in New York State Supermarkets” found that 27 percent of seafood available for purchase in supermarkets was mislabeled, and “typically cheaper, less desirable species than the desired species.”

Odds Are Your Lemon Sole Is a “Lemon”

What’s a consumer to do? Shop smart when it comes to location and type of fish. Though around half of the fish bought in the New York City and other areas around the southern New York area turned out to be “fraudulent,” all of the samples purchased in Buffalo were genuine.

If You’re Buying Fish at the Supermarket, Caveat Emptor

The study concluded that five supermarket chains had mislabeling rates that were so high, over 50 percent, that the New York OAG is conducting a consumer fraud investigation. Steer clear of the seafood aisles in these chains, unless you really know your fish: Food Bazaar, Foodtown, Stew Leonard’s, Uncle Giuseppe’s, and Western Beef. The office also recommends that buyer’s know their fish prices. And if the price is too good to be true, it probably is. Consumers should demand supermarkets to have precise labeling of their and provide a detailed description of the seafood quality and sustainability practices.

If you believe the fish sold by supermarkets in your area is not what it claims to be, contact a consumer protection attorney. No one should be fooled into buying fraudulent products.

Related Resources:

  • Find a Consumer Protection Attorney Near You (FindLaw’s Lawyer Directory)
  • Jamba Juice Sued for ‘Whole Fruits’ Misleading Advertising (FindLaw Common Law)
  • Kind Bars Sued for Misleading Customers With Ingredients (FindLaw Common Law)

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