Mislabelling of escolar fish species as sea bass and potential health issues associated with consumption

Recently, there has been some national publicity about illness associated with the consumption of fish known as escolar (Lepidocybium flavobrunneum and ruvettus pretiosus). The purpose of this food hazard information alert is to give advice on possible mislabelling of escolar as sea bass.

The Agency has received reports of this particular species of fish being sold as sea bass, particularly 'sea bass steaks', which has enforcement implications.

Fish at retail sale must be named using the accepted commercial designations as listed in the Schedule to the Fish Labelling (England) Regulations 2003 (SI 2003 No.461, ISBN: 0-11-045039-6).

Therefore, a species of fish listed in column 2 of the Table will have to use the corresponding commercial designation given for that species in column 1.

These commercial designations cannot be used for species of fish other than those listed in the Table.

The scientific (Latin) name of the fish species determines the commercial designation or the designated common name.

Thus, the corresponding commercial designation for that species must be used to describe the product. For example, all species of the family Gempylidae must be labelled as 'escolar' or 'snake mackerel' while Dicentrarchus labrax must be described as 'bass' or 'sea bass'.

Therefore, 'escolar' or 'snake mackerel' is the only name that can be given to the particular species of fish from the family Gempylidae and it would be illegal to pass it off as 'sea bass', which comes from a completely different species of fish.

Escolar is the common name for Lepidocybium flavobrunneum, Ruvettus pretiosus is also known as 'oilfish', but as both are from the family Gempylidae they both should be labelled as 'escolar' or 'snake mackerel.'

Lepidocybium flavobrunneum is a deep-sea fish widely distributed in tropical and temperate seas and has a high oil composition.

It has an almost uniformly dark brown body, becoming almost black with age, with oily flesh. Ruvettus pretiosus is also widely distributed in tropical seas.

Its body is also uniformly brown to dark brown but differs from Lepidocybium flavobrunneum in that it had rough skin with scales interspersed with bony tubercles.

Pictures of both fish can be accessed below.

Escolar is generally supplied frozen to the catering trade from importers in 20 portion or 5-7Kg boxes.

The fish has a white flesh and is usually supplied as steaks which may be provided skin-on and bone-in or skinless and boneless.

The high indigestible wax ester nature of the oils may cause stomach cramps and diarrhoea in consumers.

Further information regarding gastrointestinal illness associated with the consumption of escolar will be sent to local authorities.