The Instance of Mussel Mislabeling Among Richmond and Vancouver Markets of Native M. trossulus, Invasive M.galloprovincialis and M.edulis, and their Hybrids

Abstract

Seafood fraud is a prevalent issue globally, and Canada is no exception with one of the highest rates of mislabelling in the world. This poses significant challenges to traceability, sustainability, and consumer protection. Among the commonly consumed types of mussels, the Blue Mussel (genus Mytilus) is particularly susceptible to mislabeling as a result of its morphological indistinguishability between multiple species, as well as its frequent hybridization. In this study, nine mussel samples, all believed to be M.galloprovincialis, were collected from three seafood markets in the Vancouver and Richmond area and were identified using PCR and gel electrophoresis. The banding patterns were compared to the expected banding patterns for each species of Mytilus to determine if the samples were labeled correctly or not. The results revealed that 11% of the mussel samples were mislabeled, or 1 out of the 9 mussels collected.