RedHanded – ShortHand: Fish Fraud (January 20, 2026)

Episode Overview

In this punchy and humor-laced RedHanded ShortHand episode, hosts Saruti and Hannah dive deep (pun intended) into the murky world of seafood fraud—one of the most common, yet under-acknowledged, types of food deception facing everyday consumers. Using studies, expert opinions, and their own vivid anecdotes, the hosts unpack how, why, and where fish fraud happens, why it matters, and how listeners can protect themselves from paying top dollar for falsely labeled seafood (and from unintentionally eating something entirely unexpected). Expect outrage, laughter, and the memorable phrase "anal seepage."

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Can You Tell One Fish from Another?

• The episode opens with banter about whether either host could differentiate between various types of fish, raising the point that most consumers can’t—especially once fish are skinned and filleted ([00:21]).
• Saruti jokes: “If you are like me and you don't know your fish and you think that they all look the same, then you, like me, are a fish racist... The truth is that the average consumer cannot tell the difference between one fish and another fish, especially when they've been skinned and filleted.” ([02:42])

Shocking Scale: How Prevalent is Fish Fraud?

• A 55% chance: According to a Guardian analysis, over half of seafood in the UK is mislabeled.
  • “There is a 55% chance that you are not eating the fish you think you are.” ([03:08])
  • Both hosts express outrage at this statistic, comparing it to other shockingly high odds: “Any statistic that's 55%. I'm outraged. Absolutely outraged.” ([03:37])
• Highlighted concern: Nutritional differences, pricing, and ethical/environmental implications.

Types of Seafood Fraud

1. Mislabelling ([04:35])

• Explained by scientist Max Valentine (Oceana): Lower-quality or farmed seafood labeled as wild/high-quality.
• Especially common with salmon. Example: farmed Atlantic salmon being sold as “wild” at huge markups.
  • “The fact that they are putting up the price and then charging you for farmed salmon is pretty fucking despicable.” ([05:39])

2. Substitution ([09:00])

• High-end fish replaced with cheaper lookalikes.
• Scallops: German study found that 48% of “king scallops” were actually Japanese farmed scallops.
• Scallop scam: Some “scallops” are actually plucked, saline-injected rounds of white fish.
  • “I think if you can't tell the difference between scallop and a round bit of fish, then I don't think you should get ripped off.” ([09:48])
• Caviar: Instead of real sturgeon roe, consumers often get cheaper roe that's dyed black or even sturgeon guts formed into balls. ([10:43])
• Red Snapper: The “king” of substitution—almost 70% of UK red snapper tested was fake ([11:37]); in the US, only 7 out of 120 samples tested as real red snapper ([12:12]).

Systemic Causes: Why Is This Allowed to Happen? ([12:26])

• Most fraud occurs before seafood reaches the consumer—often at sea, outside oversight.
• Industrial fishing: Trawlers process, fillet, and freeze fish long before landfall, making accurate labeling difficult.
  • “There is literally no motivation for trawlers to label their catches correctly. Combine this with how incredibly overfished, highly priced fish are and the motivation is obvious.” ([13:24])

Economic Incentives & Bycatch ([14:25])

• “Bycatch”: Non-target fish caught in nets, often rebranded and sold, since discarding is wasteful and unsustainable.
• Butterfish/Escolar example: Butterfish (escolar) rebranded from an unwanted bycatch to a delicacy. Can cause severe digestive effects (“anal seepage”) in humans if consumed in large quantities.
  • “Unfortunately, this buttery taste and texture comes from a waxy oil within the flesh that, if consumed in large quantities, can, in humans, lead to anal sea.” ([17:04])

Government Oversight & Consumer Burden ([17:26])

• Few effective regulations, due to most fishing happening in international waters; responsibility is diffuse.
• “...if something is everybody's responsibility, then it's also kind of nobody's responsibility.” ([18:09])
• The burden remains on consumers to be vigilant.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the futility of telling fish apart:
  “If you are like me and you don't know your fish and you think that they all look the same, then you, like me, are a fish racist.”
  – Saruti ([02:42])

• On government oversight:
  “If something is everybody's responsibility, then it's also kind of nobody's responsibility.”
  – Saruti ([18:09])

• On consumer advice:
  “Now, when it comes to eating out, the golden rule is, if it seems too good to be true, then it probably is.”
  – Hannah ([19:09])

• The episode's unforgettable phrase:
  “On a really, really bad day, you've got anal seepage.”
  – Hannah ([17:26])

• A rallying cry for broader fish tastes:
  “Asian catfish isn't a substitute in Thailand, it's the star of the show. Yet here in the uk, we predominantly eat just a handful of species...The only difference is that one has been fished into almost oblivion. So if you take one thing from this episode, it's you don't have to stick to cod or salmon or tuna. There are plenty more fish in the sea.”
  – Saruti ([20:48])

Practical Consumer Tips

How to Beat Fish Fraud ([18:09] onward):

• Buy Fresh, Support Local: Buy from trusted local fishmongers who source directly from fishing boats.
• See the Fish Whole: Buy fish with skin or shell on whenever possible.
• Question Deals: If the price for rare or premium fish seems low, be skeptical.
• Check Seasons: Out-of-season fish are likely frozen—or not the real thing.
• Expand Your Palate: Don’t just stick to cod, salmon, or tuna; be open to less-fished, sustainable species.
• On Sardines:
  “I would highly recommend tinned sardines...You put some spices on it and you put a piece of kitchen roll, dry kitchen roll, over the top and then you set it on fire and it, like, smokes them and crisps them...and you get a tin of sardines for, like, 80p.” – Hannah ([21:38])

Episode’s Tone & Style

The hosts maintain their signature blend of sharp humor, relatable frustration, irreverence, and factual reporting throughout. The discussion is laced with expletives, vivid analogies, and off-the-cuff banter. The tone is conspiratorial, punchy, and inviting for listeners, making even the most arcane seafood facts feel engaging (and frequently hilarious).

Conclusion

RedHanded’s “Fish Fraud” ShortHand is an eye-opening, entertaining, and occasionally stomach-turning journey into the realities of seafood labeling. The message is clear: be skeptical, be informed, and branch out with your seafood choices—there really are plenty more fish in the sea.

Key Timestamps:

• [02:42] – The average consumer can’t tell most fish apart
• [03:08] – 55% of UK seafood is mislabeled
• [04:35] – Two main types of seafood fraud explained
• [09:00] – Substitution scams with scallops & caviar
• [11:15] – Red snapper’s status as the king of fake fish
• [14:25] – Bycatch and rebranding unwanted species
• [17:04] – The dangers (yes, “anal seepage”) of escolar
• [19:09] – Practical tips for avoiding fish fraud
• [20:48] – Call to expand your fishy horizons

Best takeaway: "There are plenty more fish in the sea"—just make sure you know what fish you’re actually buying.