Consumer lobby calls for more public say whether trout is salmon

China Consumers Association (CCA) said on Tuesday that the demands of consumers and public opinion should be fully considered by the China Aquatic Products Processing and Marketing Alliance (CAPPMA) regarding their decision to allow rainbow trout to be sold as salmon, reports China Consumer Journal.

The CAPPMA decision has generated a lot of discussion online in China, with many members of the public saying that the ruling lacks a scientific basis, and could mislead consumers. And a survey conducted by the Shanghai Consumer Council shows that 84 percent of consumers surveyed in Shanghai believe that trout and salmon are different.

The consumer's association has weighed into the debate, saying that the CAPPMA decision might have been biased because of the involvement of China's 13 main fishery companies in the process. The CCA said that the CAPPMA standard should be subject to supervision by consumers to ensure that it was established independently and on a scientific basis. It also urged the relevant government departments to strengthen their guidance and supervision of the marketplace.

Rainbow trout and salmon are raised differently and have different qualities. Rainbow trout cannot be eaten raw. The river fish can carry parasites that can be transmitted to people who eat its uncooked flesh. And salmon generally carries a higher price than trout.