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Mackerel Tins Swapped: Shoppers Fooled by Cheaper Jack Fish
11 Sep
Summary
- Jack mackerel, a cheaper species, replaces traditional mackerel in tins.
- Consumers are misled, receiving a different fish with lower nutritional value.
- This practice is criticized as 'skimpflation' by consumer watchdog Which?
Concerns are mounting over tinned mackerel, as brands and supermarkets replace traditional mackerel with jack mackerel, a different species, due to overfishing. This substitution, though labeled, is criticized by food experts and consumer groups like Which? for offering a less nutritious and flavourful product. Jack mackerel contains roughly half the omega-3 fatty acids compared to traditional mackerel.
The practice is dubbed 'skimpflation' by Which?, with their head of food policy stating manufacturers have a responsibility to be upfront about recipe changes. Viral reviewer Marcus Ansell noted a significant quality drop, rating jack mackerel poorly and receiving many disappointed messages from consumers. This shift is driven by unsustainable catch levels of North-East Atlantic mackerel.
Chilean jack mackerel, used in many replacements, costs about a third of true Atlantic mackerel. Labelling rules were recently updated to permit its sale as 'jack mackerel' instead of 'horse mackerel' or 'scad.' Retailers like Lidl and Princes are transitioning to MSC-certified jack mackerel, while Waitrose has temporarily suspended mackerel sales due to overfishing concerns.
