When choosing canned mackerel to keep in the cupboard, start by comparing the protein and salt per 100 g, the drained fish weight and the allergens. A plain recipe lets you choose your own accompaniment, while an oil-based or seasoned recipe may suit certain taste preferences better. In either case, check the ingredients and the portion you plan to serve. If someone is losing weight or following a medical diet, seek advice tailored to their needs.
If you want to include fish in a meal with minimal fuss, check the protein per 100 g and the drained net weight to gauge the portion you’ll serve. Manger Bouger highlights the value of meals that include fish, among other foods, for people over 75. However, no single tin can meet all dietary needs.
If cooking takes too much effort or your appetite varies, taste and texture can matter as much as ease of serving. A plain recipe can be paired with whatever you like; with a pre-seasoned recipe, check the ingredients too.
If you need to follow individual dietary advice or avoid an allergen, read the salt information, ingredients list and allergen details on the exact tin you’re buying. The words “in spring water” don’t replace these checks.
Start with the fish portion and nutritional values, then choose a recipe to suit how you plan to serve it. When comparing plain, oil-based and seasoned varieties, make sure the figures are given on the same basis, particularly if the label shows information for both the product as sold and the drained product.
| What to check | Look for | Who is this for? |
|---|---|---|
| Protein and portion size | Compare the protein per 100 g and the drained net weight, especially if the tin contains water, oil or sauce. | I want to know how much fish I’ll be serving and check its protein content, rather than relying on the tin size alone; around 36% of consumers prioritise this. |
| Convenience and taste | Choose a plain recipe to accompany yourself or a ready-prepared option to suit the meal you have in mind; check the instructions for after opening. | When preparing a meal takes too much effort, I prefer a tin that’s easy to serve and tastes good to me; convenience comes first for around 29% of consumers. |
| Salt and ingredients | Check the salt per 100 g, ingredients list and allergens for the exact recipe. | If I need to follow advice about salt or avoid an ingredient, I want to check what’s in the product before buying; around 21% of consumers put this first. |
| Storage and variety | Check the best-before date, the condition of the tin and the storage instructions for after opening; plan to eat other types of fish too. | I keep tins in reserve, but want to use leftovers safely and vary the fish I eat; for around 14% of consumers, this is their main concern. |
The plain varieties listed by Auchan and Petit Navire contain 0.9 g and 1.0 g of salt per 100 g respectively. So the recipe name alone doesn’t tell you how much salt it contains.
Compare the salt information on the tins you’re considering, and follow any individual advice given by a healthcare professional.
If the tin contains water, oil or sauce, the drained net weight helps you distinguish the amount of fish from the total contents of the tin.
Check this weight as well as the nutritional values per 100 g, and make sure you know whether they refer to the product as sold or the drained product.
The product information for Carrefour Extra’s plain mackerel fillets warns that they may contain traces of mustard and milk. Two tins with similar names don’t necessarily have the same ingredients or allergen information.
If you have an allergy or need to avoid certain foods, check the information on the exact product before using it.
Storage instructions change once a tin is open. For the products featured here, Saupiquet and Auchan advise keeping them in the fridge and eating them within two days.
Plan how you’ll use the leftovers and follow the instructions on your tin. To add variety to your meals, Anses also recommends alternating between different fish species and sources.
These examples relate to specific products. Check the recipe and the label on the tin you choose before applying any figures to another product from the same brand.
The range includes 110 g plain, steamed mackerel fillets, worth considering if you’re looking for a short ingredients list.
The brand includes grilled fillets in extra virgin olive oil, a ready-prepared recipe to compare with plain varieties.
The brand’s plain mackerel fillets offer a way to compare a recipe containing water and herbs with fillets that have a shorter ingredients list.
The 120 g plain mackerel fillets are another example of a recipe with a short ingredients list.
The retailer sells several mackerel recipes under its own brands, including plain fillets and seasoned preparations.
Yes. Anses lists mackerel as an oily fish. For the general population, it recommends varying the species and sources of fish rather than always choosing the same one.
Compare protein, fat and salt per 100 g, then check the ingredients, allergens and amount of drained fish. If the product information gives separate figures for the product as sold and the drained product, use the same basis for both tins. DGCCRF advises that nutritional information is given per 100 g or 100 ml.
Follow the instructions on the tin you bought rather than automatically applying those for another brand. The products featured by Auchan and Saupiquet should be refrigerated and eaten within two days of opening.
No. A tin can make it easier to prepare a meal, but it doesn’t replace an assessment of the person’s situation. Manger Bouger recommends consulting a doctor if someone is losing weight, to identify possible malnutrition as early as possible.