Fish and chips shops exposed for secretly using catfish instead of regular fish

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A BBC investigation revealed that some fish and chip shops in the UK are selling catfish and labeling it as cod or haddock. The investigation found this mislabeling happening at several different takeaways.

An investigation in the North West of England found that some businesses were selling pangasius – a fish also called river cobbler – without clearly labeling it. This fish is usually farmed in Southeast Asia and is much cheaper than cod or haddock.

So, I was reading about this study done by Liverpool John Moores University, and it’s kinda messed up. They checked ten different fish and chip shops, and three of them were straight-up selling catfish when their menus said something else, or didn’t even say what kind of fish it was! Basically, you think you’re getting one thing, but you could be getting totally bamboozled. It really makes you think twice about where you’re getting your takeaway from, you know?

Catfish is much cheaper than cod or haddock – around £3.40 per kilogram compared to roughly £15. Despite this, the investigation found that catfish being sold was often priced the same as these more expensive fish, ranging from £3.80 to £5 per portion.

As a fish and chips fan, I was really surprised to learn that restaurants are actually legally required to tell you what kind of fish you’re eating if you ask! But apparently, some places are getting around this by just labeling things as “white fish” or “traditional fish and chips” – which doesn’t really tell you anything, does it? It’s good to know my rights, but I’d still prefer they just be upfront about the fish!

The BBC reports that while cases aren’t common, the Chartered Trading Standards Institute has confirmed some businesses are falsely advertising products. Rising costs may be to blame, as over 70% of fish and chip shop owners are worried about increasing prices, according to industry sources.

Officials are encouraging people to check what kind of fish they’re being sold and to contact their local consumer protection agency if they think they’ve been given incorrect information.

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2026-05-01 16:18