My Fun World

New York City seafood sellers don’t know a tuna from a tilapia.

Close to 60% of big retail stores, and 40% of mom-and-pop locations, sold fish that was mislabeled, a new study reveals.

The research, by the environmental group Oceana, also found that 100% of sushi bars they tested have hooked their customers on counterfeit chum.

Researchers tested the DNA of 142 fish bought from 81 retail outlets. A whopping 56 samples — 39% — were mislabeled.

“It’s unacceptable that New York seafood lovers are being duped more than one-third of the time when purchasing certain types of fish,” said Kimberly Warner, an Oceana scientist.

All 16 sushi eateries subjected to testing sold customers mislabeled fish.

Oceana staff bought seafood mostly from retailers in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens that were recommended by online reviews from Yelp.

The study showed that 94% of fish labeled “white tuna” turned out to be cheaper pieces of escolar, a snake mackerel whose toxins can have a “purgative effect” on people who eat more than a few bites.

The researchers also found that red snapper and halibut purchased at one small market was actually tilefish — which is on the FDA’s do-not-eat list because of high mercury content.

“Not only are New Yorkers being cheated when buying fraudulent fish, but those wanting to choose their seafood wisely for health, religious or conservation concerns are being seriously misled,” Warner said.

New York fared better than other major U.S. cities where Oceana tested store-bought fish. In Boston, 48% of the fish was mislabeled, while 55% was mislabeled in Los Angeles.