"Aussies are being sold 'fake' and chips, not flake and chips because of Australia's shoddy labelling laws,” said Oceans Campaigner Nathaniel Pelle. “The Assistant Health Minister needs to mandate the use of the Australian Fish Names Standard and introduce country of origin rules in restaurants and takeaways”.
A senate inquiry in 2014 recommended an exemption from country of origin regulations for the food service sector be lifted.
Greenpeace investigated shark being sold in 23 Melbourne restaurants in September 2014. DNA analysis undertaken by an independent laboratory revealed that only one of nine samples labelled ‘gummy shark’ was actually gummy and one third of the samples labelled ‘flake’ were found to be other species, mostly school shark. The voluntary Australian Fish Names Standard advises that the term ‘flake’ only be used for gummy shark and a similar species from New Zealand, rig.
“Australians are being kept in the dark about where their seafood comes from, the type of fish they are eating, and how it reached their plate,” said Pelle.
Under Australia’s current labelling laws, restaurants and takeaways don’t have to include any information on their menus about where the seafood comes from or what type of fish it is.
“It is not possible for consumers to make an informed decision under these conditions — a situation that may result in negative environmental and health outcomes.”
“Australians deserve labelling laws that tell us what fish we're eating, where it was caught and how it was caught.”
Link to flake research briefing: http://bit.ly/1xA0vF9
Link to Senate report: http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Rural_and_Regional_Affairs_and_Transport/Seafood_labelling/Report
For interviews, contact:
Nathaniel Pelle, 0402 856 063
Elsa Evers, 0438 204 041
For more information: Visit www.labelmyfish.com. A background report includes detailed case studies of poor labelling.