Can Citizen Science Be a Key Factor in the Fight Against Mislabeling? Discovering What Squid Is on the Plate

Governments invest much effort trying to control food markets as well as to protect consumer rights, but resource limitations and the complexity of the scenario make it a challenging task. To overcome this, the use of Citizen Science could potentially be a powerful tool to fight against food fraud. We have researched this through the assessment of mislabeling for squids of Loligo genus, one of the most appreciated and consumed foods in Spain and Europe, with a big information gap regarding their mislabeling status. We involved volunteers to collect squid samples at Spanish restaurants, genetically identifying them later. Thanks to participants, sampling was highly successful, with 93.55% of the samples recovered and very similar mislabeling values being found whether samples were collected by experts or volunteers. Citizen Science provided high territorial coverage (82% of Spanish autonomous communities) to gain a comprehensive view of Loligo mislabeling in Spanish restaurants, its magnitude (91.59%) and consumer preferences, demonstrating a huge potential of the use of Citizen Science in traceability studies. Interestingly, mislabeling was equally present in both sandwiches and plates, was higher in inland localities than on the coast, and was higher in cheaper products. Participants reported a greater understanding of the concept of mislabeling after their participation and expressed high interest in their involvement in scientific projects in the future. They also emphasized the importance of fostering a close relationship between science and society.