Like Sushi?

frost · 11-21-2009, 05:22 PM

A biologist walks into a sushi bar and orders some tuna. What does he get? Escolar, a nasty fish with buttery flesh that can cause bizarre episodes of diarrhea, accompanied by a waxy intestinal discharge.

It’s not a joke. It happened five times to the same scientists during a brief research project. The results of that study were published Wednesday in PLOS One.

“A piece of tuna sushi has the potential to be an endangered species, a fraud or a health hazard,” wrote the authors. “All three of these cases were uncovered in this study.”

The team of researchers from Columbia University and the American Museum of Natural History ordered tuna from 31 sushi restaurants and then used genetic tests to determine the species of fishes in those dishes. More than half of those eateries misrepresented, or couldn’t clarify the type of fish they were mongering. Several were selling endangered southern bluefin tuna.

Although their results were shocking, exposing sloppy sushi joints wasn’t their main goal. The scientists were trying to improve on a new species-identification technique, called DNA barcoding. A coalition of labs has been collecting fish, reading their genes and uploading the information to a database called FISH-BOL.

Their goal is to build a catalog of every fish species on earth so that anyone with a handheld DNA reader could definitively identify fish within minutes. Wildlife officials could use that technology to spot-check fish markets, and fine people who are selling protected species.

Liberated from Sushi DNA Tests Reveal Fraud | Wired Science | Wired.com

SmoothZ · 11-21-2009, 05:26 PM

Don't ruin it for me. I love sushi. Knock on wood, I have yet to encounter a nasty dinner. I do like the tuna, though.

phelan · 11-22-2009, 12:24 AM

wtf? hole in the wall sushi joint or something?

Trips · 11-22-2009, 12:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phelan

wtf? hole in the wall sushi joint or something?

Southgachik · 11-22-2009, 02:23 AM

oh damn...

Togo · 11-22-2009, 09:14 AM

I like sushi but don't like raw tuna much.. hahah

Matt · 11-22-2009, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Togo

I like sushi but don't like raw tuna much.. hahah

So far, I haven't found a "sushi" that I liked. The seaweed's texture doesn't agree with me, and the only meat I've enjoyed in the sushi rolls I've eaten was the crab meat.

Togo · 11-22-2009, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt

So far, I haven't found a "sushi" that I liked. The seaweed's texture doesn't agree with me, and the only meat I've enjoyed in the sushi rolls I've eaten was the crab meat.

If you like shrimp you can always try something that has shrimp tempura. It's a fried shrimp. Also the eel is usually pretty good too. At least those are the things I really like.

370Zsteve · 11-22-2009, 09:31 AM

If you like Mercury with your food, I highly recommend sushi.

frost · 11-22-2009, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 370Zsteve

If you like Mercury with your food, I highly recommend sushi.

That's how I get all my mercury

Trips · 11-22-2009, 12:32 PM

You can't get Mercury from eating Tuna!
Crabs maybe but not Mercury..smells cheesy. lol

frost · 11-22-2009, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Triple's

You can't get Mercury from eating Tuna!
Crabs maybe but not Mercury..smells cheesy. lol

NRDC: Mercury Contamination in Fish - Eating Tuna Safely

Trips · 11-22-2009, 12:52 PM

Somebody didn't get the snatch joke! in there....

frost · 11-22-2009, 12:56 PM

When I saw crabs, I definitely got it. Just posting something informative

LiquidZ · 11-22-2009, 01:09 PM

Good thing I rarely eat tuna at a sushi bar.

Unagi... now that's a different story.

11-21-2009, 05:22 PM	#1 (permalink)
frost Retired admin Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Winterfell Posts: 106,613 Drives: Your Wife Crazy Rep Power: 0	Like Sushi? A biologist walks into a sushi bar and orders some tuna. What does he get? Escolar, a nasty fish with buttery flesh that can cause bizarre episodes of diarrhea, accompanied by a waxy intestinal discharge. It’s not a joke. It happened five times to the same scientists during a brief research project. The results of that study were published Wednesday in PLOS One. “A piece of tuna sushi has the potential to be an endangered species, a fraud or a health hazard,” wrote the authors. “All three of these cases were uncovered in this study.” The team of researchers from Columbia University and the American Museum of Natural History ordered tuna from 31 sushi restaurants and then used genetic tests to determine the species of fishes in those dishes. More than half of those eateries misrepresented, or couldn’t clarify the type of fish they were mongering. Several were selling endangered southern bluefin tuna. Although their results were shocking, exposing sloppy sushi joints wasn’t their main goal. The scientists were trying to improve on a new species-identification technique, called DNA barcoding. A coalition of labs has been collecting fish, reading their genes and uploading the information to a database called FISH-BOL. Their goal is to build a catalog of every fish species on earth so that anyone with a handheld DNA reader could definitively identify fish within minutes. Wildlife officials could use that technology to spot-check fish markets, and fine people who are selling protected species. Liberated from Sushi DNA Tests Reveal Fraud \| Wired Science \| Wired.com

11-22-2009, 12:24 AM	#3 (permalink)
phelan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: CA Age: 38 Posts: 9,513 Drives: Scoobaroo Rep Power: 3406	wtf? hole in the wall sushi joint or something? __________________ 凛 ('Rin') - 2009 Nissan 370Z With silence comes peace. With peace comes freedom. With freedom comes silence.

11-22-2009, 02:23 AM	#5 (permalink)
Southgachik Base Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 135 Drives: 09 CY 370Z Touring Rep Power: 15	oh damn... __________________ 2009 CY 370z Touring RIP- Marilyn- 05 UY 350Z- May 2011

11-22-2009, 09:14 AM	#6 (permalink)
Togo A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2009 Location: E. Northport, NY Posts: 7,597 Drives: Stuff Rep Power: 657	I like sushi but don't like raw tuna much.. hahah __________________ This will decimate all after you put about fifteen grand in it or more, and if we have to, overnight parts from Japan. Joe Clem and Koeppel Nissan

11-22-2009, 09:31 AM	#9 (permalink)
370Zsteve A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Gold Coast CT Posts: 10,599 Drives: 2019 Corvette G.S. Rep Power: 42	If you like Mercury with your food, I highly recommend sushi. __________________ SOLD MY Z MARCH 2018 - another Core OG moves on - new ride 2019 Z Corvette Grand Sport - no mods necessary but already have eyes on HFC and intakes LOL IT NEVER ENDS.

11-21-2009, 05:26 PM	#2 (permalink)
SmoothZ A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Arrakis Posts: 7,952 Drives: giant sandworm Rep Power: 35	Don't ruin it for me. I love sushi. Knock on wood, I have yet to encounter a nasty dinner. I do like the tuna, though.

11-22-2009, 12:32 PM	#11 (permalink)
Trips Administrator Join Date: May 2009 Location: Disneyland, Ca Posts: 8,728 Drives: 🔰 Rep Power: 10	You can't get Mercury from eating Tuna! Crabs maybe but not Mercury..smells cheesy. lol __________________

11-22-2009, 12:52 PM	#13 (permalink)
Trips Administrator Join Date: May 2009 Location: Disneyland, Ca Posts: 8,728 Drives: 🔰 Rep Power: 10	Somebody didn't get the snatch joke! in there.... __________________

11-22-2009, 12:56 PM	#14 (permalink)
frost Retired admin Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Winterfell Posts: 106,613 Drives: Your Wife Crazy Rep Power: 0	When I saw crabs, I definitely got it. Just posting something informative

11-22-2009, 01:09 PM	#15 (permalink)
LiquidZ A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 1,940 Drives: Mag. Black 2009 370Z Rep Power: 704	Good thing I rarely eat tuna at a sushi bar. Unagi... now that's a different story. __________________