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Rogue Chip Shops Selling Catfish as Traditional Fish Supper, BBC Investigation Finds

A BBC North West investigation has uncovered that some chip shops in Liverpool and Manchester are selling catfish (pangasius/river cobbler) as traditional fish and chips, deceiving customers who expect cod or haddock. DNA testing at Liverpool John Moores University found 3 out of 10 sampled takeaways were selling catfish, which costs £3.40/kg compared to £15/kg for traditional species. While the fish is safe to eat, consumer advocates and industry leaders warn this practice undermines public trust and amounts to deceptive labelling.