Who is this question for?

Strictly vegan households

If you exclude animal-derived foods from your shopping, rule out mackerel before comparing pack sizes. Anses notes that fish is excluded from vegetarian diets; vegan diets also exclude other foods of animal origin.

Shoppers who confuse fish, organic and vegan

A recipe made with organic ingredients can still contain fish. The ingredients list for Saupiquet’s organic mild mustard mackerel fillets helps make the distinction.

Households mindful of the nutritional profile of a replacement

If you replace mackerel with a plant-based food, don’t assume they have the same omega-3 profile. Anses distinguishes between ALA, found in land-based plants, and EPA and DHA, found in oily fish such as mackerel.

What should you check before choosing a family pack?

For vegan shopping, ingredients matter more than pack size. Once you’ve chosen a plant-based food category, you can compare pack sizes with your household’s actual consumption.

Criterion What to check Shoppers concerned
Vegan suitability Read the product name and ingredients list; rule out products containing fish or other animal-derived ingredients. When putting together a vegan shop, I want to rule out fish before looking at pack size; around 46% of shoppers put this first.
Pack size for your household Once you’ve checked the ingredients, compare the net quantity with the portions your household actually uses. If I’m replacing a tin for several people, I want a pack size that suits the amount we eat; around 36% of shoppers put this need first.
Nutritional profile Check the nutritional information for the product you’re considering. If omega-3 is one of the reasons for switching, distinguish between ALA and EPA/DHA. I don’t want to assume a plant-based food has the same profile as mackerel; around 18% of shoppers prioritise this check.

Mistakes to avoid

  • Comparing mackerel multipacks before checking if they’re vegan

    A higher number of tins or a different weight doesn’t change the fact that mackerel is an animal product.

    For a vegan shop, check the ingredients of the products you’re considering first, then compare the pack sizes of those that are suitable.

  • Confusing “organic” with “vegan”

    Saupiquet’s organic mild mustard mackerel fillets contain fish, despite the organic claim on the recipe.

    Read the product name and ingredients list rather than relying on that claim alone.

  • Assuming the nutritional value is automatically equivalent

    Anses distinguishes between ALA, found in land-based plants, and EPA and DHA, found in oily fish such as mackerel.

    Check vegan suitability and the nutritional information for your chosen food separately. For advice about your individual nutritional needs, speak to a healthcare professional.

Mackerel brands mentioned as examples

Petit Navire

The product listing for Natural Steamed Mackerel Fillets is for a 110 g tin.

  • Petit Navire lists “mackerel fillets (99%), salt” for this product.
  • This product contains fish and isn’t suitable for a vegan shop; this doesn’t apply to every product from the brand.

Saupiquet

The Organic Mild Mustard Mackerel Fillets product comes in a 120 g tin.

  • Saupiquet states that this recipe contains 70% mackerel fillets.
  • The organic claim doesn’t make this product vegan; its ingredients shouldn’t be assumed to apply to every Saupiquet recipe.

Joybuy products related to this topic

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Can mackerel be part of a vegan shop?

No, because mackerel is a fish. Anses notes that vegetarian diets exclude animal flesh, including fish; vegan diets also exclude other foods of animal origin. The product’s pack size doesn’t change this incompatibility.

Is a tin of organic mackerel vegan?

No, if it contains mackerel. The product listing for Saupiquet’s Organic Mild Mustard Mackerel Fillets states that it contains 70% mackerel fillets; the organic claim doesn’t replace the need to check the ingredients.

What should you check before buying a plant-based alternative in a family pack?

First check the product name and ingredients list, then compare the net quantity with your household’s needs. The DGCCRF lists these among the details shown on the labels of pre-packed food.

Does a plant-based alternative have the same omega-3 profile as mackerel?

Not necessarily: Anses distinguishes between ALA, found in land-based plants, and EPA and DHA, found in oily fish such as mackerel. If this profile is important to your choice, check the nutritional information for the food you’re considering rather than assuming it’s equivalent.