DNA-based methods are reliable for a precise identification of species in processed products. In this study, we assessed five typical DNA extraction methods from multiple aspects. Full-length and mini-length DNA barcoding were performed to detect the species substitution and mislabeling of 305 processed fish products from the Chinese market covering six processed fish products. The salt extraction method that exhibited the best overall performance was applied. All samples were successfully extracted; however, only 19.3 % of samples could be amplified using the full-DNA barcode primer set, and 90.2 % of samples could be amplified using the newly designed mini-DNA barcode primer sets (401 and 320 bp). Overall, the molecular identification results revealed that 36.4 % (111/305) of the samples were inconsistent with the labels, with commercial fraud observed in all six types of processed fish products. The survey findings provide technical references for effective fish authentication monitoring, offering insights into the seafood safety in markets.

Since COVID-19 emerged, a plethora of misinformation has undermined the public\'s ability to identify reliable sources of accurate information. To identify the range of methods governments used to address COVID-19 misinformation, we conducted a content analysis of international media and evaluated government actions in light of international law, which protects freedom of expression and calls on governments to guarantee this fundamental right even during a pandemic or other emergency. We identified five categories of government activities: (1) disseminating and increasing access to accurate information; (2) restricting access to accurate information; (3) disseminating disinformation, false information, and misinformation; (4) addressing commercial fraud; and (5) criminalizing expression. The goal of addressing COVID-19 misinformation is best served by protecting expression, disseminating factual information, ensuring strong protections for whistleblowers, and supporting an independent media environment. Conversely, governments undermine public health when they create a state of uncertainty and violate human rights.

The substitution and mislabeling is facilitated by the processing of fish products. We employed a DNA barcoding to authenticate fillets labeled as \"dourada\" (Brachyplatystoma rousseauxii), and \"piramutaba\" (Brachyplatystoma vaillantii) marketed in the Brazil. A 615 bp of the Cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) was sequenced from 305 fillets and subsequently identified to species level by querying public databases and sequences of reference species. The results revealed a global mean substitution rate of 17%. The highest substitution rate was detected in \"dourada\" (26%), the most valuable species, followed by \"piramutaba\" (9%). The most cases of substitutions were by species of lower commercial value, suggesting fraud aimed at increased profits. Therefore, we suggest the improvement of food-labeling regulation, continued inspection, as well as the adoption of the DNA barcode for the molecular authentication of processed fish to prevent substitution of these products in Brazil.

The data obtained with a polar or non-polar gas chromatography (GC) column coupled to ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) has been explored to classify Iberian ham, to detect possible frauds in their labelling. GC-IMS was used to detect the volatile compound profile of dry-cured Iberian ham from pigs fattened on acorn and pasture or on feed. Due to the two-dimensional nature of GC-IMS measurements, great quantities of data are obtained and an exhaustive chemometric processing is required. A first approach was based on the processing of the complete spectral fingerprint, while the second consisted of the selection of individual markers that appeared throughout the spectra. A classification rate of 90% was obtained with the first strategy, and the second approach correctly classified all Iberian ham samples according to the pigs\' diet (classification rate of 100%). No significant differences were found between the GC columns tested in terms of classification rate.

The increased consumption of fish products, as well as the occurrence of exotic fish species in the Mediterranean Sea and in the fish market, has increased the risk of commercial fraud. Furthermore, the great amount of processed seafood products has greatly limited the application of classic identification systems. DNA-based identification allows a clear and unambiguous detection of polymorphisms between species, permitting differentiation and identification of both commercial fraud and introduction of species with potential toxic effects on humans. In this study, a novel DNA-based approach for differentiation of fish species based on pyrosequencing technology has been developed. Raw and processed fish products were tested, and up to 25 species of fish belonging to Clupeiformes and Pleuronectiformes groups were uniquely and rapidly identified. The proper identification based on short and unique genetic sequence signatures demonstrates that this approach is promising and cost-effective for large-scale surveys.

The assessment of freshness of different sizes of blue fish (Engraulis encrasicolus 12 cm, Sardina pilchardus 15 cm, Trachurus trachurus 40 cm, Scomber japonicus colias 60 cm) was carried out using non-conventional enzymatic methods. The activities of the three lysosomal enzymes (α-glucosidase (AG), β-galactosidase (B-GAL) and β-N-acetylglucosamidase (B-NA)) in extracts of blue fish muscle were measured over a period of 21 days of storage. A significant increase (p<0.05) of AG activity was observed in all species, with a large increase seen after only one day of storage. B-NA activity increased slightly in sardines, horse mackerels and chub mackerel during frozen/thawed storage. Finally, the increase of B-GAL activity was significant (p<0.05) only in the samples of larger blue fish as horse mackerel and chub mackerel. All of these enzyme activities may be helpful predictive markers to limit fraud in these species.

The identification of meat animal species used in raw burgers is very important with respect to economic and religious considerations. Therefore, international supervisory bodies have implemented procedures to control the employed meat species. In this paper we propose myoglobin as a powerful molecular marker to evaluate the presence of non-declared meat addition in raw beef burgers by using ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) for the separation and identification of edible animal species (beef, chicken, horse, ostrich, pig and water buffalo). Meat samples were pre-treated with sodium nitrite to transform oxymyoglobin and deoxymyoglobin to the more stable metmyoglobin. The developed method was validated, preparing mixtures with different percentages of pork and beef minced meat. The obtained results show that using myoglobin as marker, 5% (25 mg/500 mg) of pork or beef meat can be detected in premixed minced meat samples.