SIDiLV Congress Open access

A retail market survey on fish fraud from Southern Italy using DNA barcoding

Authors

Published
10 September 2025
Section
SIDiLV Congress
DOI
10.4081/ijfs.2025.13376

Abstract

Consumption of seafood, which includes both wild and aquaculture products, has increased several-fold during the last 50 years. Species substitution, in which low-value fish are replaced with high-value fish, is one of the prominent phenomena happening in the international seafood trade and the leading cause of fraud in the fishery sector, leading to both economic and health concerns. In this study, DNA barcoding was employed to identify 78 fishery product samples collected from markets and supermarkets located in the Apulia region (Southern Italy) at the genus or species level. Non-compliance between the species detected and the species declared in the label was detected in 5 (6.41%) samples. This study highlights the need for further investigations regarding the traceability and assessment of food product authentication. Indeed, accurate taxonomic assignment and a robust traceability system are essential tools for tackling food adulteration problems, providing transparency, and protecting food safety.

Keywords

References

  1. Adibah AB, Syazwan S, Haniza Hanim MZ, Badrul Munir MZ, Intan Faraha AG, Siti Azizah MN, 2020. Evaluation of DNA barcoding to facilitate the authentication of processed fish products in the seafood industry. LWT 129:109585. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lwt.2020.109585
  2. Ali M, Sultana S, Abd Hamid SB, Hossain MA, Yehye W, Kader M, Bhargava S, 2016. Gelatin controversies in food, pharmaceuticals and personal care products: authentication methods, current status and future challenges. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr 58:1495-511. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/10408398.2016.1264361
  3. Angers A, Ballin NZ, Hofherr J, Kagkli DM, Lievens A, Maquet A, Martinsohn J, Paracchini V, Petrillo M, Puertas-Gallardo A, 2017. Enhancing fish species identification using novel markers and emerging technologies. Available from: https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC105966.
  4. Armani A, Guardone L, La Castellana R, Gianfaldoni D, Guidi A, Castigliego L, 2015. DNA barcoding reveals commercial and health issues in ethnic seafood sold on the Italian market. Food Control 55:206-14. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodcont.2015.02.030
  5. Bentur Y, Ashkar J, Lurie Y, Levy Y, Azzam ZS, Litmanovich M, Golik M, Gurevych B, Golani D, Eisenman A, 2008. Lessepsian migration and tetrodotoxin poisoning due to Lagocephalus sceleratus in the eastern Mediterranean. Toxicon 52:964-8. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxicon.2008.10.001
  6. Caballero-Mateos AMa, Sánchez-Capilla AD, Redondo-Cerezo E, 2018. Keriorrhea (waxy diarrhea), a new sign to bear in mind. Rev Esp Enferm Dig 110:529. DOI: https://doi.org/10.17235/reed.2018.5614/2018
  7. Camacho-Oliveira RB, Daneluz CM, do Prado FD, Utsunomia R, Rodrigues CE, Foresti F, Porto-Foresti F, 2020. DNA barcode reveals the illegal trade of rays commercialized in fishmongers in Brazil. Forensic Sci Int Synerg 2:95-7. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsisyn.2020.02.002
  8. Carvalho D, Palhares R, Drummond M, Tiago B, Frigo, 2014. DNA Barcoding identification of commercialized seafood in South Brazil: a governmental regulatory forensic program. Food Control 50:784-8. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodcont.2014.10.025
  9. Castigliego L, Armani A, Tinacci L, Gianfaldoni D, Guidi A, 2015. Two alternative multiplex PCRs for the identification of the seven species of anglerfish (Lophius spp.) using an end-point or a melting curve analysis real-time protocol. Food Chem 166:1-9. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2014.06.014
  10. Cawthorn D-M, Hoffman LC, 2017. Deceit with decapods? Evaluating labelling accuracy of crustacean products in South Africa. Food Control 73:741-53. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodcont.2016.09.027
  11. Chang C-H, Lin H-Y, Ren Q, Lin Y-S, Shao K-T, 2016. DNA barcode identification of fish products in Taiwan: Government-commissioned authentication cases. Food Control 66:38-43. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodcont.2016.01.034
  12. Cohen NJ, Deeds JR, Wong ES, Hanner RH, Yancy HF, White KD, Thompson TM, Wahl M, Pham TD, Guichard FM, Huh I, Austin C, Dizikes G, Gerber SI, 2009. Public health response to puffer fish (Tetrodotoxin) poisoning from mislabeled product. J Food Prot 72:810-7. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4315/0362-028X-72.4.810
  13. Di Pinto A, Forte V, Guastadisegni M, Martino C, Schena FP, Tantillo G, 2007. Comparison of DNA extraction methods for food analysis. Food Control 18:76-80. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodcont.2005.08.011
  14. Di Pinto A, Marchetti P, Mottola A, Bozzo G, Bonerba E, Ceci E, Bottaro M, Tantillo G, 2015. Species identification in fish fillet products using DNA barcoding. Fish Res 170:9-13. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fishres.2015.05.006
  15. Di Pinto A, Mottola A, Marchetti P, Bottaro M, Terio V, Bozzo G, Bonerba E, Ceci E, Tantillo G, 2016. Packaged frozen fishery products: species identification, mislabeling occurrence and legislative implications. Food Chem 194:279-83. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2015.07.135
  16. EUROPOL, 2016. Food fraud: Joint Europol-INTERPOL Operation OPSON V Results Report. Available from: https://www.europol.europa.eu/media-press/newsroom/news/food-fraud-joint-europol-interpol-operation-opson-v-results-report.
  17. FAO, 2020. GLOBEFISH highlights January 2020 ISSUE, with Jan. – Sep. 2019 Statistics. Available from: https://openknowledge.fao.org/handle/20.500.14283/ca7968en.
  18. FAO, 2023. Global fish economy: Production and trade to grow in 2022, prices remain strong overall [GLOBEFISH News]. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Available from: https://www.fao.org/in-action/globefish/news-events/news/news-detail/Global-fish-economy-Production-and-trade-to-grow-in-2022-prices-remain-strong-overall/en
  19. FAO, 2024. The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2024. Available from: https://openknowledge.fao.org/items/06690fd0-d133-424c-9673-1849e414543d.
  20. Filonzi L, Chiesa S, Vaghi M, Nonnis Marzano F, 2010. barcoding reveals mislabelling of commercial fish products in Italy. Food Res Int ernational 43:1383-8. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodres.2010.04.016
  21. Filonzi L, Vaghi M, Ardenghi A, Rontani PM, Voccia A, Nonnis Marzano F, 2021. Efficiency of DNA mini-barcoding to assess mislabeling in commercial fish products in Italy: an overview of the last decade. Foods 10:1449. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/foods10071449
  22. Fox M, Mitchell M, Dean M, Elliott C, Campbell K, 2018. The seafood supply chain from a fraudulent perspective. Food Sec 10:939-63. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12571-018-0826-z
  23. Goyal K, Kumar P, Verma K, 2021. Food adulteration detection using artificial intelligence: A systematic review. ACME 29:397-426. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11831-021-09600-y
  24. Hanner R, Becker S, Ivanova NV, Steinke D, 2011. FISH-BOL and seafood identification: geographically dispersed case studies reveal systemic market substitution across Canada. Mitochondrial DNA 22:106-22. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3109/19401736.2011.588217
  25. Hebert PDN, Gregory TR, 2005. The promise of DNA barcoding for taxonomy. Syst Biol 54:852-9. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/10635150500354886
  26. Hubert N, Kadarusman PhD, Wibowo A, Busson F, Caruso D, Sulandari S, Nafiqoh N, Pouyaud L, Rüber L, Avarre J-C, Herder F, Hanner R, Keith P, Hadiaty R, 2015. DNA barcoding Indonesian freshwater fishes: challenges and prospects. DNA Barcodes 3:144-69. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/dna-2015-0018
  27. Islam Q, Razzak MA, Islam MdA, Bari MI, Basher A, Chowdhury F, Sayeduzzaman M, Nazmul Ahasan HAM, Faiz A, Arakawa O, Yotsu-Yamashita M, Kuch U, Mebs D, 2011. Puffer fish poisoning in Bangladesh: Clinical and toxicological results from large outbreaks in 2008. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 105:74-80. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trstmh.2010.10.002
  28. Kappel K, Haase I, Käppel C, Sotelo CG, Schröder U, 2017. Species identification in mixed tuna samples with next-generation sequencing targeting two short cytochrome b gene fragments. Food Chem 234:212-9. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2017.04.178
  29. Kappel K, Schröder U, 2016. Substitution of high-priced fish with low-priced species: adulteration of common sole in German restaurants. Food Control 59:478-86. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodcont.2015.06.024
  30. Leahy S, 2021. Revealed: seafood fraud happening on a vast global scale. Available from: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/mar/15/revealed-seafood-happening-on-a-vast-global-scale.
  31. Ling K, Nichols P, But P, 2009. Fish-induced keriorrhea. Adv Food Nutr Res 57:1-52. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S1043-4526(09)57001-5
  32. Maralit BA, Aguila RD, Ventolero MFH, Perez SKL, Willette DA, Santos MD, 2013. Detection of mislabeled commercial fishery by-products in the Philippines using DNA barcodes and its implications to food traceability and safety. Food Control 33:119-25. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodcont.2013.02.018
  33. Miya M. Environmental DNA Metabarcoding: a novel method for biodiversity monitoring of marine fish communities. Ann Rev Mar Sci. 2022 Jan 3;14:161-85. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-marine-041421-082251
  34. Mottola A, Piredda R, Catanese G, Giorelli F, Cagnazzo G, Ciccarese G, Dambrosio A, Quaglia NC, Di Pinto A. DNA metabarcoding for identification of species used in fish burgers. Ital J Food Saf 2022;11:10412. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4081/ijfs.2022.10412
  35. Munguia-Vega A, Terrazas-Tapia R, Dominguez-Contreras JF, Reyna-Fabian M, Zapata-Morales P, 2022. DNA barcoding reveals global and local influences on patterns of mislabeling and substitution in the trade of fish in Mexico. PLoS One 17:e0265960. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0265960
  36. Nagalakshmi K, Annam P-K, Venkateshwarlu G, Pathakota G-B, Lakra WS, 2016. Mislabeling in Indian seafood: an investigation using DNA barcoding. Food Control 59:196-200. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodcont.2015.05.018
  37. Nicole S, Negrisolo E, Eccher G, Mantovani R, Patarnello T, Erickson D, Kress W, Barcaccia G, 2012. DNA barcoding as a reliable method for the authentication of commercial seafood products. Food Technol Biotechnol 50:387-98.
  38. Nijdam D, Rood T, Westhoek H, 2012. The price of protein: review of land use and carbon footprints from life cycle assessments of animal food products and their substitutes. Food Policy 37:760-70. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodpol.2012.08.002
  39. OCEANA, 2021. Seafood fraud in Canada. 2021 testing results report. Available from: https://oceana.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/oceana_canada_seafood_fraud_report_2021_en.pdf.
  40. Paolacci S, Mendes R, Klapper R, Velasco A, Ramilo-Fernandez G, Muñoz-Colmenero M, Potts T, Martins S, Avignon S, Maguire J, De Paz E, Johnson M, Denis F, Pardo MA, McElligott D, Sotelo CG, 2021. Labels on seafood products in different European countries and their compliance to EU legislation. Marine Policy 134:104810. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2021.104810
  41. Paracchini V, Petrillo M, Lievens A, Puertas Gallardo A, Martinsohn JT, Hofherr J, Maquet A, Silva APB, Kagkli DM, Querci M, Patak A, Angers-Loustau A, 2017. Novel nuclear barcode regions for the identification of flatfish species. Food Control 79:297-308. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodcont.2017.04.009
  42. Pardo MÁ, Jiménez E, Pérez-Villarreal B, 2016. Misdescription incidents in seafood sector. Food Control 62:277-83. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodcont.2015.10.048
  43. Pepe T, Trotta M, di Marco I, Cennamo P, Anastasio A, Cortesi ML, 2005. Mitochondrial cytochrome b DNA sequence variations: an approach to fish species identification in processed fish products. J Food Prot 68:421-5. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4315/0362-028X-68.2.421
  44. Piskatá Z, Kralik P, Tremlová B, Rencova E, 2007. Methods of gadoid fish species identification in food and their economic impact in the Czech Republic: a review. Vet Med 52:273-92. DOI: https://doi.org/10.17221/2044-VETMED
  45. Rasmussen RS, Morrissey MT, 2009. Application of DNA-based methods to identify fish and seafood substitution on the commercial market. Compr Rev Food Sci Food Saf 8:118-54. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1541-4337.2009.00073.x
  46. Staats M, Arulandhu AJ, Gravendeel B, Holst-Jensen A, Scholtens I, Peelen T, Prins TW, Kok E, 2016. Advances in DNA metabarcoding for food and wildlife forensic species identification. Anal Bioanal Chem 408:4615-30. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-016-9595-8
  47. Sultana S, Ali MdE, Hossain MAM, Asing, Naquiah N, Zaidul ISM, 2018. Universal mini COI barcode for the identification of fish species in processed products. Food Res Int 105:19-28. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodres.2017.10.065
  48. Venuti I, Ceruso M, Palma G, Smaldone G, Pepe T. DNA barcoding and nutritional analysis as a tool for promoting the market of inland fish species. Ital J Food Saf 2021;10:9565. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4081/ijfs.2021.9565
  49. Ward RD, Zemlak TS, Innes BH, Last PR, Hebert PD, 2005. DNA barcoding Australia's fish species. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 29;360:1847-57. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2005.1716
  50. Warner K, 2018. Seafood sleuthing: how citizen science contributed to the largest market study of seafood mislabeling in the U.S. and informed policy. Marine Policy 99:304-11. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2018.10.035
  51. Willette DA, Simmonds SE, Cheng SH, Esteves S, Kane TL, Nuetzel H, Pilaud N, Rachmawati R, Barber PH, 2017. Using DNA barcoding to track seafood mislabeling in Los Angeles restaurants. Conserv Biol 31:1076-85. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.12888
  52. Xiong X, D’Amico P, Guardone L, Castigliego L, Guidi A, Gianfaldoni D, Armani A, 2016. The uncertainty of seafood labeling in China: a case study on Cod, Salmon and Tuna. Marine Policy 68:123-35. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2016.02.024
  53. Xiong X, Guardone L, Cornax MJ, Tinacci L, Guidi A, Gianfaldoni D, Armani A, 2016. DNA barcoding reveals substitution of Sablefish (Anoplopoma fimbria) with Patagonian and Antarctic Toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides and D. mawsoni) in online market in China: How mislabeling opens door to IUU fishing. Food Control 2016;70:380-91. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodcont.2016.06.010

Metrics

Citations and online attention from Dimensions, Altmetric and PlumX.

PlumX Metrics

License

Copyright (c) 2025 the Author(s)

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

PAGEPress has chosen to apply the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC 4.0) to all manuscripts to be published.