Extra fishy: your tinned mackerel may not be what you think it is
Summary
Some brands and supermarkets have started selling canned jack mackerel instead of traditional Atlantic mackerel because of overfishing. Although labeled, jack mackerel is different in taste, nutrition, and cost, but sold at similar prices, raising concerns about consumers being misled.Key Facts
- Overfishing has reduced Atlantic mackerel availability, leading brands like Princes and Lidl to replace it with jack mackerel in canned products.
- Jack mackerel is a different fish species with a different flavor, texture, and fewer omega-3 fatty acids than Atlantic mackerel.
- Jack mackerel is cheaper to buy but is sold at about the same price as traditional mackerel.
- The UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs recently changed labeling rules to allow jack mackerel to be marketed under that name.
- Consumer group Which? calls this practice “skimpflation,” where products shrink or change but prices stay high.
- Marine Conservation Society rates northeast Atlantic mackerel as a "fish to avoid" due to overfishing risks.
- Princes says it will return to Atlantic mackerel if sustainable fishing and certification improve.
- Lidl uses MSC-certified Chilean jack mackerel and reviews sourcing based on sustainability science.
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