Species authentication of canned mackerel: Challenges in molecular identification and potential drivers of mislabelling

The market for canned mackerel is growing due to their competitive price and the excellent properties of meat. However, weak rules current legislation, coupled with loss discrimination power being obliged use short barcode regions, open up new challenges traceability in processed products. In this study, first time, we applied a two-step mini-barcoding approach identify sold Italian markets make assumptions on potential drivers mislabelling. Preliminary identification was performed using mini-barcode universal primers targeting COI-fragment; then, order discriminate within complex Scomber colias/S. japonicus/S. australasicus, second step, specific designed mitochondrial control region (D-loop). Comparison between labels molecular identifications highlighted that chance mislabelling could be either 45% or 0%, depending interpretation generic terms used labels. Therefore, study revealed ambiguous use, ingredient list, ‘umbrella’ naming fish species, such as ‘sgombro’ related geographic origin products creates opportunities fraudulent activities, but also misleads consumers. light pattern, an urgent update European legislation needed face future full chain traceability.