Australian Calamari vs Imported Squid — Country of Origin

Side-by-side

Australia

Australian Southern Calamari

SA / VIC / TAS

🇦🇺 Local

Catch methodHand-jigged

Chemical tenderisingNone

Bleach in processingNone

Frozen-thawed cyclesMinimal

Price per kg~$30

Overall rating: Southern Calamari scores 9.2/10 — tender, fresh, hand-jigged.

Asia

Imported Squid

China / Vietnam / Thailand

Catch methodIndustrial trawl

Chemical tenderisingCommon

Bleach in processingReported

Frozen-thawed cyclesMultiple

Price per kg~$15

Overall rating: Imported Squid scores 5.0/10 — bleached, treated, generic.

Nutrition (per 100g)

How Southern Calamari compares to imported equivalents on key nutrients.

Protein18.4g15.8g

Selenium44µg30µg

Omega-3 Fatty Acids540mg320mg

Vitamin B121.3µg0.9µg

Copper1.9mg1.4mg

Price context

Why is the imported product cheaper?

Imported calamari (China, Peru, India) is cheap and dominates retail; Australian southern calamari is premium and limited.

Quality & integrity

Mislabelling risk

Australia: Low

Imported: Moderate — squid species substitution common

Bottom line

Bottom line

Australian southern calamari is a small, special product — buy when you see it.

Sources

Sources cited on this page

DNA testing of Australian restaurant seafood — Australian Marine Conservation Society / Minderoo Foundation, 2022

Read the full Southern Calamari profile →

Side-by-side

Nutrition (per 100g)

Price context

Quality & integrity

Mislabelling risk

Bottom line

Sources

Sources cited on this page

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