Fraudulent practices in the sale of shellfish bring warnings from consumer advocates

Agadir 24 | Agadir24

Consumer advocates have warned of deceptive and fraudulent practices affecting the sale of types of molluscs, as this is related to the spread of a marine mollusk called “buta,” similar to many other well-known cephalopod mollusks, such as “calamar” and “sepia.”

In light of the difficulty of distinguishing between “buta” and other similar species, actors in the field of consumer protection revealed that many restaurants and fish selling points resort to selling “buta” on the basis that it is one of the other species: “sepia” or “calamar.”

Consumer advocates highlighted that the aim of this measure is to double profit margins, given the low prices of the “buta” type, which imposes tighter monitoring on restaurants and points of sale concerned with these practices, by requiring them to indicate the real names of the products they sell, in line with current laws. It works.

In response to this issue, Bouazza El Kharati, President of the Moroccan University for Consumer Rights, explained that “the marine mollusk product called “buta” is mainly imported from abroad, especially Latin America, and is used as bait to catch a certain type of fish, but it is also destined for consumption.”

Al-Kharati added that this species “is known for its large size and is widespread in many fish markets as well as restaurants,” noting that “some places that sell fish in installments, as well as some restaurants and food stores, practice economic deception on the consumer and sell it “butta” on the basis that it is fish.” “Sepia” or “calamar”, and sometimes at the price of these two types.

According to the same spokesman, “the failure of the concerned sellers to specify the quality of the fish sold, despite the large difference in prices, is considered a fraud on the consumer and a violation of his right to information,” noting that “these acts are criminal under the laws and legislation related to combating commercial fraud.”

The President of the Moroccan University for Consumer Rights concluded that “confronting such practices requires tightening monitoring by the health authorities, throughout the year, in order to urge stores and restaurants to adopt the best commercial practices.”