Is it true that squid made of plastic burn like rubber?

Information about counterfeit dried squid made from rubber being mixed in and sold on the market has caused consumers considerable confusion and anxiety.

» 'Technology for processing' dried squid from Quynh Sea

"Nearly 700kg of rotting chicken wings, thighs, and squid almost ended up in a restaurant."

According to Nguyen Hoang Minh (Ha Dong, Hanoi), he expressed his frustration, stating that in May 2017, while traveling in Thanh Hoa, he bought about 3kg of dried squid for 200,000 VND from a roadside stall as a gift. However, upon closer inspection, the squid had an unusual appearance, a thin body, and translucent, plastic-like flesh, while the tail was easily detached because it was glued on.

When he grilled the squid, it had no aroma but a fishy smell, a bitter taste, and was very tough. Suspecting it was fake, Mr. Minh threw away all of it. “At first glance, this type of squid doesn't look much different from natural squid, but upon closer inspection, there are many differences, especially the flavor isn't as sweet and fragrant as usual. The head and tentacles are glued on, and when soaked in water, they turn pale and stretch and become elastic like rubber when torn,” Mr. Minh said.

Information circulating on many forums about fake squid allegedly made from rubber has caused widespread confusion and anxiety.

Similarly, Ms. Hai (Dinh Cong, Hanoi) also reported that once when she went to the market, she noticed several strange things when buying pre-shredded squid. The squid had a pleasant aroma, but many pieces were unusually long, and especially when stretched by hand, these pieces of squid had an elasticity similar to rubber bands.

Upon closer inspection, the shredded squid pieces lacked the vein along the back like regular squid, and when burned, they emitted a pungent, plastic-like smell. Based on her experience, Ms. Hai believes this is fake squid that has been mixed in and sold to consumers. "I bought it but didn't dare eat it and threw it away. This is the first time I've ever bought such low-quality fake squid," Ms. Hai said.

Previously, information about suspected counterfeit dried squid also caused a stir and confusion among consumers. In fact, on many forums, people shared articles about how to distinguish between fake and real dried squid.

However, in an interview with Dan Tri newspaper, Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Duy Thinh (Institute of Biotechnology and Food, Hanoi University of Science and Technology) affirmed that there is currently no scientific basis to confirm the existence of fake squid made from rubber being sold on the market.

"If we only rely on sensory descriptions such as the squid having an unusual shape, emitting a pungent smell when burned, or stretching like rubber, to conclude that this is fake squid, it's not convincing. I assert that there is no such thing as fake squid because the technology to produce squid that looks and smells exactly like the real thing would cost many times more than natural squid," said Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Duy Thinh.

The white squid (left) looks appealing after its black outer layer (right) is peeled off. Photo: Doan Cong

Explaining the unusual elasticity and shape of the squid, the expert said that it's possible the squid was of poor quality during processing, so sellers had to use chemicals to treat it and prolong its shelf life. Therefore, when eaten, the squid is not sweet but fishy and tougher than usual. Also, any squid that is overcooked will have a burnt taste, especially if the body shows green and red mold.

Mr. Nguyen Tu Cuong (former Director of the Department of Quality Management of Agricultural, Forestry and Fisheries Products - Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) also affirmed that it is impossible for whole dried squid to be faked using plastic or rubber, as rumored recently.

With years of experience in the seafood industry, Mr. Cuong said that some types of squid suspected of being fake are actually called "ghost squid" or "devil squid." When dried, this type of squid is black, bitter, difficult to chew, and not as fragrant and sweet as regular squid, so people often suspect it's fake. Compared to other types of squid, ghost squid is quite cheap, only 1/3 or even 1/5 the price of other types.

That's why, in the past, few people caught this type of squid; it was mainly used as animal feed. Nowadays, for profit, some establishments even use bleach to remove the tentacles and peel off the dark black outer skin to make it resemble dried squid.

"I have never encountered a case of squid being faked using rubber. Many people have brought samples of suspected fake squid to me, but these are just low-quality squid that were not properly preserved, resulting in an appearance and flavor that are not as delicious as normal," Mr. Cuong said.

The expert also stated that fresh, high-quality dried squid has a natural light pink color, feels non-sticky to the touch, and has a distinctive squid aroma. Importantly, there should be no green or red mold spots on the squid's body.

"When buying dried squid, there are a few things to keep in mind. If you feel the squid isn't dry enough, you should sun-dry it. Then, wrap the squid in newspaper, put it in a plastic bag, and store it in the freezer. Ideally, dried squid should be used within about two months of purchase to maintain its delicious flavor."

Mr. Cuong also advised consumers to choose reputable establishments with clear origins to avoid buying low-quality products that are unsafe for their health.

According to Dantri