DNA lab results shockingly confirm that a popular canned fish brand is made from "blackchin tilapia," contradicting the Department Director's claim and substituting it for sardines. Plans are underway to summon four agencies for negligence investigations and accountability.
On 14 July 2026 at the Parliament, MP Natthacha Boonchai-insawat of the People's Party, together with the BIOTHAI Foundation and the Consumer Organization Council, held a press conference revealing scientific DNA test results on canned fish amid suspicions of "blackchin tilapia" being processed and sold to the public. Natthacha stated that previously, canned fish samples complained about by citizens were submitted to various government agencies under the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation but were rejected on grounds that management viewed the issue as political. Consequently, BIOTHAI coordinated to send samples to the International Center of Excellence for Marine Food Science and Innovation, Faculty of Agro-Industry, Prince of Songkla University, for testing instead.
Natthacha continued that detailed lab results from two samples showed that Sample 1, the canned fish brand “Pin Thong” produced in Samut Songkhram province, was confirmed by DNA Mini-barcoding to be "Nile tilapia" with 99.03–99.35% similarity. Sample 2, the “Dok Tan Yong” brand by Sri Rung Ngam Company, produced in Samut Sakhon province and previously seized by the Department of Fisheries and the Office of the Consumer Protection Board, was tested by sampling three fish tissue pieces eight times. Results clearly matched the DNA of "blackchin tilapia" (Sarotherodon melanotheron) from the Department of Fisheries’ DNA Bank database.
"Last year, the Department of Fisheries eradicated blackchin tilapia using the Rubber Authority of Thailand’s budget to purchase several million kilograms and told the public it was used for fermented water and fertilizer. Yet within a year, fish with unknown origins ended up in canned products. This issue must be pursued further, and legal action taken against those neglecting their duties," Natthacha said.
Natthacha added that he plans to submit all evidence to the Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives to demand accountability after officials under the ministry had previously firmly asserted that "no matter what, this is not blackchin tilapia." He received information that government agencies only examined external characteristics such as bones, skin, and flesh, without conducting DNA-level testing. This raises questions whether this was negligence or intentional falsification to obstruct processes. He intends to file legal complaints against the Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture, and Food and Drug Administration accordingly.
Additionally, concerns were raised that blackchin tilapia infestations have intensified two to three times compared to the previous year, causing local fish species extinction. However, the 2027 Department of Fisheries budget lacks any allocation for eradicating this species, despite spending 1.3 million baht in 2026.
Ms. Prokchon U-sub, Director, and Mr. Withoon Lianjamroon, Secretary-General of BIOTHAI Foundation, stated that ambiguous information severely impacts the ecosystem and consumer confidence. They proposed three points to the government: for the FDA and Department of Fisheries to review and transparently disclose scientific lab results free from political pressure; to retest over 10,000 seized canned fish immediately and extend investigations to other processed food products; and to implement targeted control measures rather than neglecting the problem in favor of commercial exploitation that harms the ecosystem.
Meanwhile, Ms. Boonyuen Siritham, Chairperson of the Consumer Organization Council, said that using blackchin tilapia in canned fish is a serious "catfishing" fraud deceiving consumers. Regardless of whether the fish is Nile tilapia or blackchin tilapia, the label states sardine, so substitution is a clear violation of the Consumer Protection Act. The Department Director’s earlier hurried assurance that the fish was Nile tilapia shows a lack of expertise and damages his own credibility.
Ms. Boonyuen emphasized that the Consumer Council has proposed a new Food Safety Act draft pending in Parliament for over two years. The current law is outdated with insufficient penalties. The new law will focus on a "traceability" system requiring operators to transparently disclose all raw material sources to prevent prohibited fish from entering the public food supply chain.