Fish sold across Bosnia and Herzegovina is not always what the label claims. A study published in the journal Discover Food used DNA mini-barcoding to test 96 fish samples collected from the country’s market and found that 11.5 percent were mislabeled. The problem was concentrated in samples sold as salmon and tuna, and the highest rate of mislabeling appeared in the fresh and frozen fish category, with sushi fish showing the greatest percentage of mislabeling among individual sample types.
The research team, led by Neira Fazlović and colleagues, collected a variety of samples to assess the frequency of fish mislabeling on the market of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Their collection included fresh and frozen fish, frozen and processed fish products such as smoked and breaded fish, fish dishes, and canned fish.
The technique behind the study relies on a simple biological fact: every fish species carries unique sequences in its mitochondrial DNA. DNA barcoding works by amplifying and sequencing specific regions of this genetic material that differ between species. The resulting sequences are then compared against existing reference databases, which store the verified DNA profiles of known species, allowing an unknown sample to be matched to its true biological identity.
Not every sample yielded usable genetic material. The mislabeling rate of 11.5 percent was calculated from the 96 samples in which DNA was successfully amplified, meaning the figure reflects the subset of products from which readable sequences could be obtained. Within that analyzed group, the researchers identified which labeled species did not match the DNA evidence, revealing a pattern of substitution that touches both premium and everyday products.
The study’s authors found that both the type of fish and the geographical origin of the raw material had the most impact on the frequency of mislabeling observed in the B&H market, suggesting that fraud risk is shaped by where the fish enters the supply chain as much as by which species is being sold.
Fish mislabeling is a growing concern for consumers worldwide, as the study’s abstract notes.
The study was published as open access research on 3 November 2026 and is being shared early to provide faster access to peer-reviewed, accepted work; this version remains subject to further edits before the final Version of Record replaces it. For consumers in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the study’s results mean that roughly one in ten of the analyzed fish samples did not match its label. The study’s authors found that both the type of fish and the geographical origin of the raw material had the most impact on the frequency of fish mislabeling in the B&H market.
Subject of Research: Fish species mislabeling on the Bosnia and Herzegovina market assessed with DNA mini-barcoding
Article Title: Fish mislabeling on the market of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Article References: Fazlović, N., Lasić, L., Čaklovica, K., Stroil, B. K., Hanjalić, J., Miralem, M., Šatrović, L., & Šatrović, E. (2026). Fish mislabeling on the market of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Discover Food. https://doi.org/10.1007/s44187-026-01323-y
Image Credits: AI Generated
DOI: 10.1007/s44187-026-01323-y
Keywords: fish mislabeling, DNA barcoding, Bosnia and Herzegovina, food fraud, seafood authentication, salmon, tuna, sushi, mitochondrial DNA, species substitution, food safety, Fish