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Similarly, Maryland Blue Crabs, a delicacy, are subject to fraudulent practices. A study revealed that nearly 40% of crab cakes in Washington, D.C. and Maryland contained alternate crab species, often cheaper imports labeled as the authentic Maryland Blue variety. These practices threaten the sustainability of local fisheries as they face competition from fraudulent, lower-cost seafood.
The Tuna Industry and Technical Fraud
Turning our attention back to tuna, the ease of passing off species with lower value as white tuna is another major issue. An alarming study found that 59% of tuna samples tested in U.S. eateries were mislabeled. With tuna being a migratory species that is difficult to track and enforce regulations, the scenario is ripe for fraud.