mislabelled

Mislabelled refers to objects, specimens, or data that bear an incorrect label, name, or designation. It can occur at any stage of a lifecycle, from production and distribution to research and record-keeping. The term covers errors that are accidental as well as those resulting from deliberate misrepresentation. In British English, the spelling mislabelled is standard.

In everyday commerce, mislabelling can obscure ingredients, origin, or allergen information, potentially posing safety risks. In scientific and medical contexts, mislabelled samples or specimens can lead to incorrect diagnoses, erroneous research results, or flawed experiments. Taxonomic and museum mislabelling hampers biodiversity studies and historical records. In data management and machine learning, mislabelled data degrade model performance and can bias outcomes. Agricultural and seed sectors may deal with mislabelled varieties or lot information, complicating breeding and supply chains.

Causes include human error during data entry or handoff, ambiguous or evolving nomenclature, failures in barcoding or label printing, language or translation issues, and, in some cases, deliberate fraud. Detection relies on verification protocols, cross-checking with independent records, barcode scans, audits, sample re-collection, and, where possible, automated reconciliation.

Prevention emphasizes standardized labeling practices, robust chain-of-custody, training, double-check procedures, and the use of automation and error-detection systems. The consequences of mislabelling range from product recalls and safety hazards to scientific invalidation, regulatory penalties, and financial loss, as well as erosion of stakeholder trust.