Fish and chip lovers in North East Lincolnshire can rest assured the haddock they're eating really is haddock.
In the wake of concerns about the substitution of meat species in take-away kebabs in the South East and West Midlands as well as the 2013 horsemeat scandal, NELC's Trading Standards team have been visiting local fish and chips shops to check the fish being sold is exactly what it is claimed to be.
Formal food samples were taken from haddock sold at nine local fish and chips shops and sent for DNA analysis.
These checks confirmed the fish under the batter was melanogrammus aeglefi, more commonly known as haddock.
Councillor Hazel Chase, portfolio holder for Safer and Stronger Communities at North East Lincolnshire Council, said: "Fish and chips is big business in the borough and people travel here from all over to sample this Great British dish.
"It's reassuring to know that customers are receiving what they ask for when ordering from the area's fish and chip shops.
"If they ask for haddock, they can be confident it's haddock that goes into the fryer.
"North East Lincolnshire has a proud fishing heritage and we have some legendary fish and chip shops in the area, so it's great to see them flying the flag for food quality."
The council's community protection manager, Neil Clark, added: "As well as the obvious economic advantages that traders may derive when substituting one fish species with another, there are always risks that some consumers may have an intolerance or allergic reaction to a food they had not ordered.
"This brings obvious and very serious health risks. We will continue to take samples randomly from fish and chip shops throughout the year and will not hesitate to take enforcement action if food fraud is uncovered".
Anyone with concerns about food fraud in North East Lincolnshire or catering outlets looking for help or advice on carrying out checks to ensure suppliers are complying with their legal obligations, are asked to contact trading standards through the Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 08454 040506 or email trading.standards@nelincs.gov.uk.
