Extra fishy: your tinned mackerel may not be what you think it is
Substitution with jack mackerel, a different species, because of dwindling stocks is criticised by the consumer group Which? If you’ve recently opened a tin of mackerel and thought there was something fishy going on, you may have been right. An overfishing crisis means that instead of traditional mackerel, some now contain a different fish with a similar name, prompting concerns that shoppers are…
Recent reports suggest that tinned mackerel may not be as authentic as previously believed, with some brands swapping the traditional fish for jack mackerel, a different species. Consumer group Which? has criticized this substitution due to dwindling stocks of genuine mackerel. While the products are clearly labeled, some experts argue that consumers may not notice until they actually consume the fish.
The substitution is also criticized for being a form of "skimpflation," where cheaper fish is used to cut costs. Food policy expert Sue Davies emphasized the responsibility of manufacturers to be transparent about such changes. Lidl is one of the retailers reported to have made the switch, moving to MSC-certified Chilean jack mackerel.
However, reviewers have given the new product much lower ratings than the original, citing significant differences in taste, texture, and nutritional value. Chilean jack mackerel is also considerably cheaper, costing about a third of the price of traditional Atlantic mackerel. Regulatory changes have allowed jack mackerel to be marketed as such, despite earlier labeling restrictions.
The Marine Conservation Society warned of overfished mackerel stocks and labeled them as a "red" choice, meaning it should be avoided.
Written by urgent.news from Guardian Business's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
