Many fish products come from non-European countries through a complex supply chain made up of numerous brokers, and for this reason it is difficult to ensure precise traceability regarding the origin of the product. Also, today fish products are increasingly sold already prepared and ready for consumption, and in this case it is impossible to recognize the species only on the basis of the morphological characteristics of the animal. Specific laboratory analyses are therefore required to support food companies and health inspectors in identifying fish species during the trade and official control of seafood.

Find out how laboratories can correctly identify fish species in this video produced by the Istitituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie (IZSVe), an Italian health authority and research organization in the fields of animal health, food safety and zoonosis.