Expert: Jennifer Brizzi - 5/15/2009

Question
Dear Madame,

I bought 2 grey breams at a fish market 2 weeks ago. The eyes were clear, but after I removed the scales and prepared to clean them, I saw that one had healthy, fresh-looking insides. However, the other had insides that were dark and "grainy", like sand, particularly the liver.

Do you know why this happened. I am surprised because the eyes on both fish were clear.

I have stopped eating gray bream until I learn more. I am not able to talk to the fisherman about this because I am learning his language, and am not able to express myself well yet.

Thank you for your time and attention to this matter.

Answer
Your gray bream that didn't look as good as the other may have been contaminated with a toxin; without looking at it I can't say. A fish's diet will affect the color of its flesh; for example fish who eat small shrimp often have a pinkish tinge to their insides. I have often had two filets or two fishes I bought at the same time that varied a lot in quality. Of course freshness can have a lot to do with it as well.

I hope this has helped.

Jennifer Brizzi