Are we really eating dory fish fillet?

A recent report aired on the YouTube channel of a leading national daily has raised serious concerns about the authenticity of "dory fish fillet" sold in Bangladesh. Dory fish fillet is a popular item served in five-star hotels and buffet restaurants and is also sold in frozen form at many supershops. However, the report claims that, according to import data from the National Board of Revenue (NBR) reviewed over the last five to six months, no fish has been imported under the name "dory fish fillet."

Instead, the import records reportedly show imports of pangasius fish. This finding has raised questions about whether consumers are actually being served genuine dory fish fillet or a processed version of pangasius marketed under a different name.

The issue becomes even more concerning in the light of an earlier investigative report by the same media outlet. That report alleged that pangasius fish is sometimes processed, chemically treated, and reshaped to resemble dory fish fillet before being supplied to restaurants and retail outlets. Experts interviewed in the report warned that the excessive or unauthorised use of chemicals during processing could pose potential health risks to consumers.

If these allegations are accurate, the matter extends beyond food labeling and enters the realm of consumer deception and public health. Consumers have the right to know exactly what they are purchasing and consuming. Misrepresenting one type of fish as another not only undermines consumer trust but may also violate food safety and consumer protection regulations.

In this context, the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection (DNCRP) has a crucial role to play. The authority should conduct thorough investigations at hotels, restaurants, processing facilities, importing channels and supershops to determine whether products marketed as dory fish fillet are genuinely what they claim to be. Laboratory testing, supply-chain verification, and scrutiny of import records can help establish the facts.

Transparency and accountability are essential in the food industry. If consumers are paying premium prices for a product that is not what it claims to be, corrective measures must be taken. Ensuring accurate labelling and food safety is not only a regulatory responsibility but also a fundamental consumer right.

Md. Zakaria

FAVP & Credit Analyst

CRM-CMSME Division

NCC Bank PLC, Head Office