A year after a Globe investigation found restaurants and stores across Massachusetts were routinely selling cheaper, lower quality fish than they promised customers, a new round of DNA testing shows the vast majority of those venues are still mislabeling seafood. Of the 76 seafood samples tested by the Globe, 76 percent were mislabeled for the second year in a row. The Globe focused most of its testing on certain species that have been identified by regulators as more likely to be mislabeled.
Results
Correctly labeled
Mislabeled
Filter the results by moving or zooming the map
Merchants with mislabeled seafood in 2011 and 2012
Boston
Chinatown
- Mislabeled
- Item ordered:
- White tuna
- DNA result:
- Escolar
- Substituted species is...
- a cause of severe gastrointestinal problems
- Store response:
- Confirmed escolar
- 2011 Item ordered:
- Red snapper
- 2011 DNA result:
- Tilapia
Chinatown
- Mislabeled
- Item ordered:
- White tuna
- DNA result:
- Escolar
- Substituted species is...
- a cause of severe gastrointestinal problems
- Store response:
- Ordered correctly from supplier
- 2011 Item ordered:
- White tuna
- 2011 DNA result:
- Escolar
- Mislabeled
- Item ordered:
- Red snapper
- DNA result:
- Tilapia
- Substituted species is...
- a cheaper, farmed species, not wild
- Store response:
- Blamed clerical error
- 2011 Item ordered:
- Red snapper
- 2011 DNA result:
- Tilapia
Fenway
- Mislabeled
- Item ordered:
- Striped bass
- DNA result:
- White bass
- Substituted species is...
- a cheaper, farmed hybrid bass, not wild
- Store response:
- Corrected dinner menu but not online and takeout menus and receipt.
- 2011 Item ordered:
- Striped bass
- 2011 DNA result:
- Sunshine bass
Jamaica Plain
- Mislabeled
- Item ordered:
- Fresh cod
- DNA result:
- Pacific cod
- Substituted species is...
- not local, usually frozen and a cheaper species
- Store response:
- Recently revised menu; eliminated the word "fresh"
- 2011 Item ordered:
- Fresh cod
- 2011 DNA result:
- Pacific cod
Jamaica Plain
- Mislabeled
- Item ordered:
- Red snapper
- DNA result:
- Crimson snapper
- Substituted species is...
- a cheaper species
- Store response:
- Confirmed crimson snapper
- 2011 Item ordered:
- Red snapper
- 2011 DNA result:
- Ocean perch
Chinatown
- Mislabeled
- Item ordered:
- Flounder
- DNA result:
- Swai
- Substituted species is...
- a cheaper, farmed species
- Store response:
- Chinese characters on box say flounder, English description says swai
- 2011 Item ordered:
- Flounder
- 2011 DNA result:
- Swai
Chinatown
- Mislabeled
- Item ordered:
- Sole
- DNA result:
- Swai
- Substituted species is...
- a cheaper, farmed species
- Store response:
- Only orders grey sole
- 2011 Item ordered:
- Sole
- 2011 DNA result:
- Swai
Chinatown
- Mislabeled
- Item ordered:
- Red snapper
- DNA result:
- White bass
- Substituted species is...
- a cheaper, farmed hybrid bass, not wild
- Store response:
- Did not return calls
- 2011 Item ordered:
- Red snapper
- 2011 DNA result:
- Tilapia
South Boston
- Mislabeled
- Item ordered:
- Red snapper
- DNA result:
- Tilapia
- Substituted species is...
- a cheaper, farmed species, not wild
- Store response:
- Blamed clerical error; said menu has changed
- 2011 Item ordered:
- Red snapper
- 2011 DNA result:
- Tilapia
Roslindale
- Mislabeled
- Item ordered:
- White tuna (escolar)
- DNA result:
- Escolar
- Substituted species is...
- a cause of severe gastrointestinal problems
- Store response:
- Most customers know escolar as white tuna
- 2011 Item ordered:
- White tuna
- 2011 DNA result:
- Escolar
- Mislabeled
- Item ordered:
- Striped bass
- DNA result:
- White bass
- Substituted species is...
- a cheaper, farmed hybrid bass, not wild
- Store response:
- Most customers know hybrid bass as striped bass
- 2011 Item ordered:
- Striped bass
- 2011 DNA result:
- White bass
Cape & Islands
Mashpee
- Mislabeled
- Item ordered:
- White tuna
- DNA result:
- Escolar
- Substituted species is...
- a cause of severe gastrointestinal problems
- Store response:
- Thought white tuna is another name for escolar
- 2011 Item ordered:
- White tuna
- 2011 DNA result:
- Atlantic halibut
- Mislabeled
- Item ordered:
- Red snapper
- DNA result:
- Tilapia
- Substituted species is...
- a cheaper, farmed species, not wild
- Store response:
- Box from supplier labeled as red snapper
- 2011 Item ordered:
- Red snapper
- 2011 DNA result:
- Tilapia
Aquinnah
- Mislabeled
- Item ordered:
- White tuna
- DNA result:
- Escolar
- Substituted species is...
- a cause of severe gastrointestinal problems
- Store response:
- Blamed chef's error
- 2011 Item ordered:
- White tuna, Red snapper
- 2011 DNA result:
- Escolar, Tilapia
Hyannis Port
- Mislabeled
- Item ordered:
- Red snapper
- DNA result:
- Tilapia
- Substituted species is...
- a cheaper, farmed species, not wild
- Store response:
- Customers know the name 'red snapper' for tilapia
- 2011 Item ordered:
- Red snapper
- 2011 DNA result:
- Tilapia
- Mislabeled
- Item ordered:
- White tuna
- DNA result:
- Escolar
- Substituted species is...
- a cause of severe gastrointestinal problems
- Store response:
- Supplier said escolar and white tuna is the same thing; menu lists both
- 2011 Item ordered:
- NA
- 2011 DNA result:
- NA
Falmouth
- Mislabeled
- Item ordered:
- Striped bass
- DNA result:
- White bass
- Substituted species is...
- a cheaper, farmed hybrid bass, not wild
- Store response:
- Unaware hybrid bass couldn't be called striped bass; planned to change menu
- 2011 Item ordered:
- Striped bass
- 2011 DNA result:
- White bass
- Mislabeled
- Item ordered:
- Red snapper
- DNA result:
- Tilapia
- Substituted species is...
- a cheaper, farmed species, not wild
- Store response:
- Ordered correctly from supplier
- 2011 Item ordered:
- Red snapper
- 2011 DNA result:
- Tilapia
Oak Bluffs
- Mislabeled
- Item ordered:
- Albacore
- DNA result:
- Tilapia
- Substituted species is...
- a cheaper, farmed species, not wild
- Store response:
- Blamed chef error
- 2011 Item ordered:
- Striped bass
- 2011 DNA result:
- White bass
- Mislabeled
- Item ordered:
- Red snapper
- DNA result:
- Tilapia
- Substituted species is...
- a cheaper, farmed species, not wild
- Store response:
- Blamed chef error
- 2011 Item ordered:
- Red snapper
- 2011 DNA result:
- Tilapia
Dennis
- Mislabeled
- Item ordered:
- Cod
- DNA result:
- Haddock
- Substituted species is...
- usually a cheaper species
- Store response:
- Blamed clerical error
- 2011 Item ordered:
- Sole
- 2011 DNA result:
- Alaska plaice
Edgartown
- Mislabeled
- Item ordered:
- Striped bass
- DNA result:
- Tilapia
- Substituted species is...
- a cheaper, farmed species, not wild
- Store response:
- Did not return messages
- 2011 Item ordered:
- White tuna
- 2011 DNA result:
- Escolar
North
Peabody
- Mislabeled
- Item ordered:
- New England fish and chips (cod)
- DNA result:
- Pacific cod
- Substituted species is...
- not local, usually frozen, and a cheaper species
- Store response:
- Name refers to New England style of preparation
- 2011 Item ordered:
- New england cod
- 2011 DNA result:
- Pacific cod
Burlington
- Mislabeled
- Item ordered:
- Red snapper
- DNA result:
- Pinjalo snapper
- Substituted species is...
- a less expensive species
- Store response:
- Confirmed different snapper species
- 2011 Item ordered:
- Red snapper
- 2011 DNA result:
- Crimson snapper
- Mislabeled
- Item ordered:
- Grouper
- DNA result:
- Nile perch
- Substituted species is...
- a less expensive freshwater species
- Store response:
- Investigating the source of mislabeling
- 2011 Item ordered:
- white tuna
- 2011 DNA result:
- escolar
Saugus
- Mislabeled
- Item ordered:
- Striped bass
- DNA result:
- White bass
- Substituted species is...
- a cheaper, farmed hybrid bass, not wild
- Store response:
- Confirmed hybrid bass
- 2011 Item ordered:
- White tuna, Red snapper
- 2011 DNA result:
- Escolar, Tilapia
Salem
- Mislabeled
- Item ordered:
- Striped bass
- DNA result:
- Tilapia
- Substituted species is...
- a cheaper, farmed species, not wild
- Store response:
- Substitutes tilapia when out of striped bass
- 2011 Item ordered:
- Striped bass, White tuna
- 2011 DNA result:
- Tilapia, Escolar
Somerville
- Mislabeled
- Item ordered:
- Striped bass
- DNA result:
- European sea bass
- Substituted species is...
- mislabeled
- Store response:
- Blamed clerical error; revised menu
- 2011 Item ordered:
- Striped bass
- 2011 DNA result:
- European sea bass
Woburn
- Mislabeled
- Item ordered:
- White tuna
- DNA result:
- Escolar
- Substituted species is...
- a cause of severe gastrointestinal problems
- Store response:
- Did not return messages
- 2011 Item ordered:
- White tuna
- 2011 DNA result:
- Escolar
Haverhill
- Mislabeled
- Item ordered:
- White tuna
- DNA result:
- Escolar
- Substituted species is...
- a cause of severe gastrointestinal problems
- Store response:
- Promised to change menus
- 2011 Item ordered:
- White tuna
- 2011 DNA result:
- Escolar
- Mislabeled
- Item ordered:
- Red snapper
- DNA result:
- Tilapia
- Substituted species is...
- a cheaper, farmed species, not wild
- Store response:
- Promised to change menus
- 2011 Item ordered:
- Red snapper
- 2011 DNA result:
- Tilapia
West
Brookline
- Mislabeled
- Item ordered:
- Striped bass
- DNA result:
- White bass
- Substituted species is...
- a cheaper, farmed hybrid bass, not wild
- Store response:
- Ordered striped bass from distributor
- 2011 Item ordered:
- Striped bass
- 2011 DNA result:
- White bass
- Correctly labeled
- Item ordered:
- Albacore
- DNA result:
- Albacore
- 2011 Item ordered:
- White tuna
- 2011 DNA result:
- Escolar
Bedford
- Mislabeled
- Item ordered:
- White tuna (albacore)
- DNA result:
- Escolar
- Substituted species is...
- a cause of severe gastrointestinal problems
- Store response:
- Planned to change menu
- 2011 Item ordered:
- White tuna
- 2011 DNA result:
- Escolar
- Mislabeled
- Item ordered:
- Red snapper
- DNA result:
- Tilapia
- Substituted species is...
- a cheaper, farmed species, not wild
- Store response:
- Could not find supplier with red snapper
- 2011 Item ordered:
- Red snapper
- 2011 DNA result:
- Tilapia
Worcester
- Mislabeled
- Item ordered:
- White tuna
- DNA result:
- Escolar
- Substituted species is...
- a cause of severe gastrointestinal problems
- Store response:
- Did not return messages but menu lists escolar and white tuna
- 2011 Item ordered:
- White tuna
- 2011 DNA result:
- Escolar
- Mislabeled
- Item ordered:
- Striped bass
- DNA result:
- White bass
- Substituted species is...
- a cheaper, farmed hybrid bass, not wild
- Store response:
- Did not return messages
- 2011 Item ordered:
- NA
- 2011 DNA result:
- NA
Wellesley
- Mislabeled
- Item ordered:
- Alaskan butterfish
- DNA result:
- Sablefish
- Substituted species is...
- mislabeled
- Store response:
- Blamed clerical error; said menu has changed
- 2011 Item ordered:
- Alaskan butterfish
- 2011 DNA result:
- Sablefish
Worcester
- Mislabeled
- Item ordered:
- White tuna
- DNA result:
- Escolar
- Substituted species is...
- a cause of severe gastrointestinal problems
- Store response:
- New owner unaware of mislabeling
- 2011 Item ordered:
- White tuna
- 2011 DNA result:
- Escolar
- Mislabeled
- Item ordered:
- Striped bass
- DNA result:
- White bass
- Substituted species is...
- a cheaper, farmed hybrid bass, not wild
- Store response:
- New owner unaware of mislabeling
- 2011 Item ordered:
- Striped bass
- 2011 DNA result:
- white bass
Framingham
- Mislabeled
- Item ordered:
- Native scrod (cod)
- DNA result:
- Pacific cod
- Substituted species is...
- not local, usually frozen, and a cheaper species
- Store response:
- Could not explain how substitution occurred
- 2011 Item ordered:
- Scrod
- 2011 DNA result:
- Pacific cod
Natick
- Mislabeled
- Item ordered:
- White tuna (escolar)
- DNA result:
- Escolar
- Substituted species is...
- a cause of severe gastrointestinal problems
- Store response:
- Did not return messages
- 2011 Item ordered:
- White tuna
- 2011 DNA result:
- Escolar
- Correctly labeled
- Item ordered:
- Tilapia
- DNA result:
- Tilapia
- 2011 Item ordered:
- Red snapper
- 2011 DNA result:
- Tilapia
Brookline
- Mislabeled
- Item ordered:
- White tuna
- DNA result:
- Escolar
- Substituted species is...
- a cause of severe gastrointestinal problems
- Store response:
- Planned to change menu
- 2011 Item ordered:
- White tuna
- 2011 DNA result:
- Escolar
- Mislabeled
- Item ordered:
- Striped bass
- DNA result:
- White bass
- Substituted species is...
- a cheaper, farmed hybrid bass, not wild
- Store response:
- Serves striped bass most of the time
- 2011 Item ordered:
- Striped bass
- 2011 DNA result:
- White bass
Chestnut Hill
- Mislabeled
- Item ordered:
- Striped bass
- DNA result:
- White bass
- Substituted species is...
- a cheaper, farmed hybrid bass, not wild
- Store response:
- Confirmed hybrid bass
- 2011 Item ordered:
- Super white tuna, Red snapper
- 2011 DNA result:
- Escolar, Sea bream
Brookline
- Mislabeled
- Item ordered:
- White tuna
- DNA result:
- Escolar
- Substituted species is...
- a cause of severe gastrointestinal problems
- Store response:
- Confirmed escolar, added advisory to menu
- 2011 Item ordered:
- White tuna
- 2011 DNA result:
- Escolar
Newton
- Mislabeled
- Item ordered:
- White tuna
- DNA result:
- Escolar
- Substituted species is...
- a cause of severe gastrointestinal problems
- Store response:
- Declined to comment
- 2011 Item ordered:
- White tuna
- 2011 DNA result:
- Escolar
- Mislabeled
- Item ordered:
- Tai/Red Snapper
- DNA result:
- Tilapia
- Substituted species is...
- a cheaper, farmed species, not wild
- Store response:
- Declined to comment
- 2011 Item ordered:
- Red snapper
- 2011 DNA result:
- Tilapia
South
Foxborough
- Mislabeled
- Item ordered:
- Local cod
- DNA result:
- Pacific cod
- Substituted species is...
- not local, usually frozen, cheaper species
- Store response:
- Menu has been corrected
- 2011 Item ordered:
- Red snapper
- 2011 DNA result:
- Lane snapper
Plymouth
- Mislabeled
- Item ordered:
- Grouper
- DNA result:
- Pacific cod
- Substituted species is...
- a cheaper species
- Store response:
- Blamed supplier
- 2011 Item ordered:
- NA
- 2011 DNA result:
- NA
- Mislabeled
- Item ordered:
- Scrod Nantucket (haddock)
- DNA result:
- Pacific cod
- Substituted species is...
- frozen, cheaper species, not local
- Store response:
- Clerical error
- 2011 Item ordered:
- Scrod (haddock)
- 2011 DNA result:
- Pacific cod
Attleboro
- Mislabeled
- Item ordered:
- Local cod
- DNA result:
- Pacific cod
- Substituted species is...
- not local, usually frozen, and a cheaper species
- Store response:
- Blamed clerical error; said menu has changed
- 2011 Item ordered:
- Scrod (haddock)
- 2011 DNA result:
- Pacific cod
Mattapoisett
- Mislabeled
- Item ordered:
- Scrod (haddock)
- DNA result:
- Atlantic cod
- Substituted species is...
- mislabeled
- Store response:
- Blamed clerical error
- 2011 Item ordered:
- Scrod (haddock)
- 2011 DNA result:
- Atlantic cod
Plymouth
- Mislabeled
- Item ordered:
- White tuna
- DNA result:
- Escolar
- Substituted species is...
- a cause of severe gastrointestinal problems
- Store response:
- Declined to comment
- 2011 Item ordered:
- White tuna
- 2011 DNA result:
- Escolar
- Mislabeled
- Item ordered:
- Red snapper
- DNA result:
- Tilapia
- Substituted species is...
- a cheaper, farmed species, not wild
- Store response:
- Declined to comment
- 2011 Item ordered:
- Red snapper*
- 2011 DNA result:
- *Tilapia; staff informed tilapia substituted when order picked up
Plymouth
- Mislabeled
- Item ordered:
- White tuna
- DNA result:
- Escolar
- Substituted species is...
- a cause of severe gastrointestinal problems
- Store response:
- Escolar has become known as white tuna
- 2011 Item ordered:
- White tuna
- 2011 DNA result:
- Escolar
Swansea
- Mislabeled
- Item ordered:
- Red snapper
- DNA result:
- Tilapia
- Substituted species is...
- a cheaper, farmed species, not wild
- Store response:
- Declined to comment
- 2011 Item ordered:
- White tuna
- 2011 DNA result:
- Escolar
- Mislabeled
- Item ordered:
- White tuna
- DNA result:
- tilapia
- Substituted species is...
- a cheaper, farmed species, not wild
- Store response:
- Declined to comment
- 2011 Item ordered:
- Red snapper
- 2011 DNA result:
- Tilapia
Merchants with correctly labeled seafood in 2012
Boston
Longwood Medical Area
- Correct
- Item ordered:
- Cod
- DNA result:
- Pacific cod
- 2011 Item ordered:
- Cod
- 2011 DNA result:
- Hake
Dorchester
- Correct
- Item ordered:
- Flounder
- DNA result:
- Flounder
- 2011 Item ordered:
- Flounder
- 2011 DNA result:
- Swai
Fanueil Hall
- Correct
- Item ordered:
- Cod
- DNA result:
- Atlantic cod
- 2011 Item ordered:
- Fresh cod
- 2011 DNA result:
- Haddock
Back Bay
- Correct
- Item ordered:
- Atlantic cod
- DNA result:
- Atlantic cod
- 2011 Item ordered:
- Cod
- 2011 DNA result:
- Haddock
Cape & Islands
Wellfleet
- Correct
- Item ordered:
- Cod
- DNA result:
- Atlantic cod
- 2011 Item ordered:
- Cod
- 2011 DNA result:
- Haddock
Nantucket
- Correct
- Item ordered:
- Halibut
- DNA result:
- Halibut
- 2011 Item ordered:
- Striped bass
- 2011 DNA result:
- White bass
Nantucket
- Correct
- Item ordered:
- Cod
- DNA result:
- Pacific cod
- 2011 Item ordered:
- Fresh cod
- 2011 DNA result:
- Pacific cod
North Eastham
- Correct
- Item ordered:
- Cod
- DNA result:
- Atlantic cod
- 2011 Item ordered:
- Haddock
- 2011 DNA result:
- Atlantic cod
Bourne
- Correct
- Item ordered:
- Fresh cod
- DNA result:
- Atlantic cod
- 2011 Item ordered:
- Fresh cod
- 2011 DNA result:
- Pacific cod
North
Newburyport
- Correct
- Item ordered:
- Haddock
- DNA result:
- Haddock
- 2011 Item ordered:
- Cod
- 2011 DNA result:
- Haddock
Peabody
- Correct
- Item ordered:
- Boston scrod (cod)
- DNA result:
- Atlantic cod
- 2011 Item ordered:
- Cod
- 2011 DNA result:
- Haddock
Cambridge
- Correct
- Item ordered:
- Tilapia
- DNA result:
- Tilapia
- 2011 Item ordered:
- Red snapper
- 2011 DNA result:
- Tilapia
South
Foxborough
- Correct
- Item ordered:
- Haddock
- DNA result:
- Haddock
- 2011 Item ordered:
- White tuna
- 2011 DNA result:
- Escolar
West
Westborough
- Correct
- Item ordered:
- Ahi tuna
- DNA result:
- Yellowfin tuna
- 2011 Item ordered:
- Yellowfin tuna
- 2011 DNA result:
- Southern bluefin tuna
Sources: Biodiversity Institute of Ontario; ACGT, Inc; FDA; restaurants
Tom Giratikanon and Alvin Chang / Globe Staff