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Chile's Metropolitan Health Authority has opened a sanitary investigation after scientific studies found that canned products labeled as jurel, imported from China, may actually contain mackerel or sardine, less nutritious species. A study by the Catholic University’s DICTUC team analyzed 200 samples and noted clear morphological differences from Chilean jurel.
Further testing by the 5M laboratory confirmed that the cans predominantly contain species referred to as "caballo sardina" or Spanish sardine. Industry sources estimate that up to 50% of imported jurel may be mislabeled, totaling around 30 million cans.
The Health Authority is treating the case as a potential violation of consumer protection laws due to deceptive labeling. Macarena Cepeda of the Biobío Industrial Fishermen's Association warned that children consuming these cans as part of school programs are receiving lower-quality protein.
The Paine municipality, which procured over 1,200 boxes for social aid, is demanding answers and enhanced regulatory oversight. This incident highlights the urgent need for stronger traceability, labeling, and oversight in imported food products.
* Original text in Spanish. Translated by Large Language Model (LLM) technology.
Main Source:
Caballa o sardina: Así son las especies que el mercado chino vende como jurel en Chile – T13
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