Presence of Shark Meat in Cat Food Across Price Ranges (2024)

Undergraduates: Li Yibo, Fan Xia, Yanpei Li, Yiyao Chen

Faculty Advisor: Savannah Ryburn
Department: Biology

---

The purpose of this study is to quantify the percentage of mislabeling in world-popular cat food corresponding to their price. Seafood mislabeling is a critical problem that endangers consumer health and leads to economic losses. Shark meat is always commonly mislabeled, with potentially dangerous species like hammerheads sold under a generic "shark" label._x000D_
_x000D_
The pet food industry suffers from shark meat mislabeling, with research suggesting that 56% of pet food products contain undisclosed shark meat. This mislabeling often occurs because shark meat, which is a cheap protein source, is hidden under vague labels after the shark's fins are removed. Cat food has a particularly high mislabeling rate, reaching 28.99% in some studies. This study uses DNA barcoding to identify specific shark species in cat food, investigating the relationship between the price of cat food and the presence of mislabeled shark meat. The hypothesis is that lower-priced cat food is more likely to contain hidden shark meat. The findings aim to raise awareness of seafood mislabeling and promote food transparency and safety.