Authentication of ready-to-eat anchovy products sold on the Italian market by BLAST analysis of a highly informative cytochrome b gene fragment

In this study, 111 ready-to-eat anchovy products were collected on the Italian market. The products were molecularly identified through a BLAST analysis of a highly informative cytb fragment amplified by a newly designed primer pair for the genus Engraulis spp. and the mislabelling rate was assessed. In addition, the labels were analysed in the light of the current EU law. Despite only one mislabelling case was observed (mislabelling rate 0.9%), which involved the substitution of the European anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus) with the low-valuable Peruvian/Chilean anchoveta (Engraulis ringens), the molecular technique developed in this study was proved as suitable tool for detecting species in processed anchovy products. It could be therefore applied to carry out more extensive EU survey aimed at evaluating the mislabelling rate of such products, still poorly covered by a targeted and clear legislation system.