Abstract:

A DNA barcoding technique for species identification of fish ingredients in frozen whole fish, frozen
fish fillets and grilled fish fillets by using COI gen as the target was established for use in examining whether the
identified species are in accordance with those indicated on the label or not. Twenty fresh fishes, ten frozen cod
fillets and fifty grilled fish fillets were identified using the DNA Barcoding technique. The results showed that
DNA barcoding identification of the twenty frozen fishes was identical to morphological identification. Out of the
ten frozen cod fillets, six samples were identified as Theragra chalcogrammus and some samples of Merluccius
productus were labeled as Anoplopoma fimbria. Most of the grilled fish fillets were identified to be not the same
as indicated on the label and Lagocephalus lunaris ingredients were detected in some of them. DNA barcoding as a
simple and effective molecular identification approach is useful for the identification of fish ingredients in frozen
whole fish, frozen fillets and grilled fish fillets.

Key words: DNA barcoding, species identification, frozen cod fillets, grilled fish fillets