Overview
- Reporting on Friday confirmed that Princes has moved some of its tinned mackerel range to Chilean (Peruvian) jack mackerel, and those products are now on shelves at retailers including Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Lidl.
- Chilean jack mackerel is a different species to Atlantic 'true' mackerel and contains about half the omega-3 and roughly 100 fewer calories per 100g than the fish shoppers expect.
- Industry data show wholesale jack mackerel costs substantially less than Atlantic mackerel, yet several supermarkets are selling tins containing the cheaper fish at similar retail prices, prompting consumer complaints about value.
- DEFRA amended labelling rules after Princes launched the new tins, which has allowed the substitute to appear under jack mackerel or mackerel signage and drawn criticism from consumer groups calling for clearer disclosure.
- The switch follows steep declines in northeast Atlantic mackerel stocks documented by ICES and years of quota disputes between fishing nations, a backdrop that has pushed retailers to change sourcing and seek certified alternatives.