North West Chip Shops Found Selling Cheap Catfish as Cod and Haddock

A BBC investigation into online reviews flagged several chip shops in Liverpool and Manchester for serving an unidentified white fish. Researchers at Liverpool John Moores University applied DNA barcoding—a technique that matches genetic sequences to known species—to ten fillets collected from ten takeaways. The analysis identified pangasius, a farmed tropical catfish, in three samples.

Pangasius wholesale costs average £3.40 per kilogram, far below the £15 per kilogram price of traditional cod and haddock. The three catfish portions were purchased for £3.80, £4.20 and £5, while comparable servings of cod or haddock sold for £4 to £6. The price gap creates a financial incentive for some operators to substitute the cheaper fish while still charging for premium species.

A Liverpool chip shop owner who raised the issue told the BBC the practice is more common than the public assumes and harms honest businesses. He said, “This goes on more than you’d think and it’s putting people like me at a disadvantage.” The same sentiment was echoed by the National Federation of Fish Friers, whose president warned that consumer trust hinges on transparent labeling.

Under UK law, traders must disclose the species they serve when asked. Yet three of the surveyed shops listed only “fish” or “white fish” on their menus, and one server pointed to a sign proclaiming “traditional fish and chips” without specifying the catch. Local authorities have not launched coordinated investigations; responsibility for mislabeling falls to the Food Standards Agency, which typically delegates to regional councils.

Health risks appear minimal—pangasius is safe to eat—but the deception raises ethical concerns. Consumers expecting marine species such as cod, haddock or plaice may feel misled when served a freshwater farmed fish. Industry voices argue that clear labeling would allow customers to choose cheaper alternatives voluntarily.

What to watch next: regulators may tighten enforcement of fish labeling, and further DNA testing could reveal whether the practice extends beyond the North West.