Langostino lobster (is that like shrimp scampi?)
Sometime last week, Long John Silver's started running ads on the west coast promoting their "Buttered Langostino Lobster Bites." They promised "real Langostino lobster," which raised my B.S. meter to 11: code red. Thus began the search. The Oxford English Dictionary reveals that langostino is "a very large Mediterranean prawn." Wikipedia says that langostino is a Spanish word meaning "prawn."
So after digging more, I found that the FDA allows "langostino" as an acceptable market name for three species:
- Cervimunida johni;
- Pleuroncodes monodon; and
- Munida gregaria
The common name for each of these species is "squat lobster," a name that undoubtedly didn't fare very well in the food industry's focus groups. So what are these little buggers?
You can see for yourself photos of langostino (if you don't read Spanish, the pictures alone are pretty illuminating—be sure to scroll all the way down!). According to Wild Catch Magazine, these mud bugs are less than 3 inches long, and top out at 7 ounces apiece. Compare this to the smallest common American lobster whose carapace alone is the size of the largest squat lobster. It weighs in at a hefty 16 ounces and only goes up from there.
The squat lobsters, while perhaps tasty, don't look too much like the traditional lobster to my eye and importantly, they are from a different phylogenetic family so they are scientifically not lobsters. Most consumers would agree that they look like hermit crabs minus the shell. Something perhaps along the lines of crayfish... in other words, not lobster.
We should be encouraging the companies selling "langostino lobster" (i.e. Red Lobster, Long John Silver's, Rubio's), to market their products as simply "langostino." Many, like myself, would feel better about buying their products because we wouldn't feel like sheep being duped by slick marketing tactics. Don't we as Americans deserve marketing that respects our intelligence?
UPDATE: Although I like the HB3 blog, this is precisely the wrong reaction to the "langostino lobster" marketing campaigns. Unfortunately, those misleading ads are intended to evoke this sort of irrational exuberance.
UPDATE: Here is a good example of how langostino could be presented to the consumer in an honest, ethical manner. Notice how you don't feel lied to when you read that site? Are you listening, Yum Brand foods? We consumers don't like corporations trying to fool us, and we vote with our wallets.
UPDATE: NPR's All Things Considered did a story on the Langostino controversy.
Comments
thanks for doing the research for me! Just like you said the B.S. meter went off, same thing as taco bell and Carne asada steak
Posted by: John J | March 26, 2006 4:07 PM
I just bought the "Buttered Lobster Bites" from Long John Silvers. I went to the drive-thru to order a drink and was asked if I wanted some lobster tail bites for about two dollars. I thought, "Wow, what a good deal for lobsters, even if it's a small amount" and then bought it. Well, due to my oddly high inquisitive nature, I found out that these "lobster bites" aren't lobsters at all but a totally separate species of crustacean. I felt somewhat tricked into buying those "bites" after I found out about that. And then I felt that Long John even meant to trick me into thinking that I bought real lobster... (better yet, a special kind of lobster)because the box that those bites came in had printed on it: "Real Langostino Lobster Tails" as if there were restaurants out duping people into buying imitated Langostino "lobsters." Now I know. And that's half the battle. GI Joe's.
Posted by: Anonymous | June 17, 2006 2:21 PM
Thanks for the reading Chicago Foodies! I've been back to Long John's since and until they bring back the lobster bites can't see a reason to go back. I enjoyed them and would look for them again.
A side note is that since Lango is a specialty item it's rarely (if ever) on sale so compared to lobster is actually quite pricy $18-24/lb vs. sale lobster.
Response:
From my understanding, Langostino is a seasonal item, which is why it gets expensive part of the year. When in season, it's available in great quantities and is actually quite cheap, which is exactly why the restaurants use it rather than actual lobster. This is why langostino is mostly sold in the Northern hemisphere's winter-time (because in South America where langostino originates, it's summer and langostino flourishes).
Posted by: Josh | October 4, 2006 6:08 AM
Does it taste like lobster? If you're eating at long john silver and complaining about "fake" lobster then you will probably complain about anything.
Response:
The point isn't about how tasty the eating experience is, it's about corporate honesty. Personally, I think that most fake crab product tastes very much like crab; I enjoy eating it quite a bit. However, when I purchase something that says "crab" on it, I want it to be real crab, not some fake "krab" knockoff.
In the same way, if something is said to "contain real lobster," I want it to be actual lobster, not bits of relatively inexpensive large prawns.
Posted by: Anonymous | November 1, 2006 9:51 AM
Jesus fucking christ who the fuck cares what they market it as. How does this affect you whieny bitches in any way. Die in a fucking fire.
Response:
Easy, turbo. Why such anger? Is honesty from mass-market foodsellers too much to ask?
Posted by: Anonymous Coward | December 6, 2006 12:59 PM
Thanks for clearing up the confusion, I agree with you 100%
Response:
Glad to hear it!
Posted by: Kevin | January 23, 2007 11:53 PM
Reminds me the first time I saw "Genuine Artificial Mayonaise" on the label of the jar of what I thought was mayonaise. Makes me wonder why they feel the need to hide what's really inside.
Is it possible to be honest and still sell a product?
Posted by: Integrity Please | November 7, 2007 3:00 AM
Terrific article, very informative!
I used to buy langostino, frozen and bagged, from the 'President's Choice' line of products when I lived in Toronto. The bag read 'Langostino'. I thought that sounded exotic so I asked the store manager if they were an actual sea creature (yes) and so I bought them. Needless to say I'm very suprised to hear that other food sellers wouldn't list them as what they are.
Anyway, now that I've moved to a small town, I can't find them anywhere and they used to be my monthly treat!
Again, great article. Keep up the good work!
Posted by: Corinne | November 16, 2007 1:08 PM
I will not eat at Long John Silver's. How can one be sure that real shrimp or crab is being used? They are duping the public in a big way, and also associating a disgusting sea creature found primarily in dirty foreign waters with pristine Maine lobster. That is shameful.
Posted by: Bertha Fox-Dominguez | December 4, 2007 8:40 PM
I Don't know what all the fuss is. All I remember is camping on a beach in Southern Turkey at the foot of ancient ruins. Early that evening a young boy came by and set out in his rowboat to fish. Near sunset he came back with a basket full of an amazing variety of catch among which were two HUGE prawns. Longer than your hand can span. I made the deal on the spot. No negotiating. Less than US$2.
WOW. A brief boil on our microbus stove with minimal seasoning and THAT was a prawn dinner do die for. What is the genus and species of that crustacean?
Don't overlook the spiny lobster of the Caribbean. They have no claws but one of those mothers when butterflied overlapped the bounds of my plate on St. Kitts. YUM.
Forget those wannabes. Ya gotta be there.
Posted by: Phil | December 5, 2007 5:07 PM
Phil, with all due respect, sorry but when I go to a restaurant craving/seeking lobster, I don't want to be duped into purchasing a dirty-water prawn! Ick! When I saw the Long John Silver commercial about "Lobster Bites" I knew it was too good to be true, but I thought that maybe they were selling Australian or rock lobster. Never in my wildest dreams could I fathom that the product was actually a crab-like prawn that thrives in dirty waters in South America. My hats off to Olympia Snowe for sticking up for us little people.
Posted by: Bertha Fox-Dominguez | December 6, 2007 7:27 PM
I just noticed that a Long John Silver's TV commercial indicated in brief, small print that 'Lobster Bites' are actually 'Longastina lobster' which I guess is a misspelling. So at least they are trying to be honest. I was disappointed in the taste when I tried them, but I generally like LJS when I want good, unhealthy food.
Posted by: Dr. Fig | December 12, 2007 9:26 PM
Well I'll never try them again. I almost gagged when I learned that the "lobster bites" on the T.V. commercial were actually shrimp-like prawns similar to those fished out of sewerage systems in South America, and commonly used as cat food. Ick!!
Posted by: Bertha Fox-Dominguez | December 15, 2007 5:38 PM