Eurofins launches comprehensive fish testing services in response to publication of studies revealing widespread seafood fraud

Eurofins Scientific (EUFI.PA), the global leader in food and feed testing, announces that it has launched a full service package offering the most comprehensive range of analytical testing for the fish industry including DNA-based fish speciation and all parameters to ensure the overall quality and safety of fish and aquacultural products. Eurofins is also hosting a webinar on Tuesday, the 5^th of March 2013 at 16h00 CET (15h00 GMT), for an interactive discussion of issues related to fish authenticity*.

In light of recent media reports of fraudulent mislabeling of fish and fish products¹, and following the publication of the results of an investigation by Oceana** on the 21^st of February 2013 revealing widespread seafood fraud in the US², and accounts of similar incidents in Germany³, Eurofins launched its comprehensive fish and aquacultural products testing services⁴ to respond to the growing demand across the food chain for authenticity and traceability of fish and seafood products.

The Oceana report demonstrated that one third of more than 1,200 seafood samples collected in the US were mislabeled according to US Food and Drug Administration guidelines. DNA analysis allows both suppliers and consumers to have more confidence in product authenticity and justify market prices, especially of luxury products such as caviar.

Furthermore, DNA based authenticity testing can be used as a tool to protect endangered fish species and to ensure correct labeling of seafood and seafood products. While the production of fish and seafood from wild catches has remained broadly constant, the increasing fish demand is driving growth in aquaculture, resulting in the fact that aquaculture is the fastest growing animal food-producing sector (FAO 2013). Limited availability of certain fish species may lead to substitution with other potentially less valuable fish species.

Eurofins is one of the largest commercial service providers for DNA sequencing and hence can offer fish species determination at very fast, industry-leading turnaround times. The sequences are compared with the most extensive and up-to-date sequence database in the world, the NCBI nucleotide database (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov), allowing the broadest and most comprehensive species determination.  

EU regulations prohibit the mixture of different fish species in one consumer product sold. However, the prohibitive prices of certain fish species have often resulted in cheaper species being mixed into the supply chain. Mislabeled fish and seafood may in some cases also present health risks as many hazards are species-specific. Food-borne illnesses and allergic reactions are some of the possible health hazards especially for sensitive groups. Testing can, besides the DNA analysis, also be done on the same sample for the broadest range of residues and contaminants including heavy metals, such as lead, mercury, cadmium and arsenic, and veterinary drugs, mainly chloramphenicol, nitrofuran-metabolites and triphenylmethane dyes.

As previously communicated, Eurofins is presently already rolling-out its competencies in DNA analyses to the rest of Eurofins' large laboratories in Europe to help customers further improve risk management along the food supply chain. Furthermore, the Group's network capacity allows it to process high volumes and deliver the same reliable, high quality analytical results in the shortest possible turn-around-time (TAT).

1. Washington Post 21 February 2013
   Le Monde 23 February 2013
2. Oceana Study 21 February 2013
3. Die Welt 19 February 2013

^*  For details of all Eurofins-sponsored webinars, please visit http://www.eurofins.de/conferences_en/webinars/upcoming-webinars.aspx

^** Oceana is the largest international organization focused solely on ocean conservation. http://oceana.org/en/eu/home

For more information, please visit www.eurofins.com/fish-testing or contact:

Notes for the editor:

Eurofins - a global leader in bio-analysis

Eurofins Scientific is the world leader in food and pharmaceutical products testing. It is also number one in the world in the field of environmental laboratory services and one of the global market leaders in agroscience, genomics, discovery pharmacology and central laboratory services.

With over 13,000 staff in more than 170 laboratories across 34 countries, Eurofins offers a portfolio of over 100,000 reliable analytical methods for evaluating the safety, identity, composition, authenticity, origin and purity of biological substances and products. The Group provides its customers with high-quality services, accurate results in time and expert advice by its highly qualified staff.

Eurofins is committed to pursuing its dynamic growth strategy by expanding both its technology portfolio and its geographic reach. Through R&D and acquisitions, the Group draws on the latest developments in the field of biotechnology and analytical chemistry to offer its clients unique analytical solutions and the most comprehensive range of testing methods.

As one of the most innovative and quality oriented international players in its industry, Eurofins is ideally positioned to support its clients' increasingly stringent quality and safety standards and the expanding demands of regulatory authorities around the world.

The shares of Eurofins Scientific are listed on the NYSE Euronext Paris Stock Exchange (ISIN FR0000038259, Reuters EUFI.PA, Bloomberg ERF FP).

Important disclaimer:

This press release contains forward-looking statements and estimates that involve risks and uncertainties. The forward-looking statements and estimates contained herein represent the judgement of Eurofins Scientific’ management as of the date of this release. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees for future performance, and the forward-looking events discussed in this release may not occur. Eurofins Scientific disclaims any intent or obligation to update any of these forward-looking statements and estimates. All statements and estimates are made based on the data available to the Company as of the date of publication, but no guarantee can be made as to their validity.