Experts revealed that a breed of catfish farmed in Vietnam is being passed off as cod throughout the United Kingdom. It is told that these products sells for less than half the price of real cod in wholesale markets, but customers at the chippy are being charged as if it is the real thing.
It is informed that trading standards officers in Worcestershire have already successfully prosecuted one shop for passing off as cod Pangasius hypophthalmus, also known as river cobbler, basa, or iridiscent shark. The officers said that two other prosecutions are in the pipeline.
Trading standards division manager John Dell is of view that this is widespread and there will be other fish-and-chip shops around the country who are trying to pull a fast one. The catfish typically sells for £5 a kilo wholesale, compared with £11.75 for cod. Dell told that they acted upon the complaint from a customer and sent in officials to buy samples. ‘He also said that initially, the analyst couldn’t establish what it was but after some detective work, we found it was the pangasius.
Dell also said that their main objection is the fact that people are being charged a higher price for cod when they are being sold something different. It is unfair on the public and it is unfair on competitors who are selling real cod, says Dell.
