If you’re planning a meal around fish, start by comparing plain fillets by species, stated origin and ingredients. Then choose a pack size that suits the space in your freezer and the number of portions you need. Breaded products meet a different need. Before choosing one for convenience, check how much fish it contains, along with the ingredients and allergen information, rather than treating it like a plain fillet.
You want fish to be the star of your meal and to be able to compare the species, stated origin and ingredients. The labelling guidance from the DGCCRF, along with examples from Pêche Océan and Findus, can help you know what to look for.
You prepare different numbers of portions and want a pack that’s easy to store. Findus offers fillets in individual sachets, as well as products that can be cooked from frozen. Check the pack you choose to see whether this applies.
You’re considering a breaded or pre-prepared fish dish that’s ready to cook, but you also want to know how much of it is fish. The ingredient lists for Carrefour Classic’ and Auchan’s meunière-style fish show why it’s important to check for wheat, gluten and any other allergens too.
First, choose between a plain fillet and a prepared recipe, depending on the meal you have in mind. Then check the pack size, cooking instructions and information for the specific product you plan to buy.
| Criteria | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Species and traceability | For a plain fillet, compare the species, ingredients list and stated fishing area or country of farming. The DGCCRF sets out the information that must be provided for unprocessed fishery and aquaculture products. | If fish is going to be the main part of my meal, I want to know what I’m buying and make an informed choice about where it comes from. Around 42% of shoppers in this group would prioritise identifying the fillet and checking its traceability. |
| Portions and storage | Check the net weight, number of portions and storage instructions. Only plan to cook without defrosting if the instructions for the product you’ve chosen say you can. | When I’m cooking one or two portions at a time, I want a pack I can organise in my freezer without having to prepare the whole lot. Portioning and storage would be the top priority for around 33% of shoppers in this group. |
| Ready-to-cook recipe | For a breaded or prepared product, check the fish content, ingredients, allergens and cooking instructions. | For a quick meal, I might choose breaded fish, but I want to know what’s in the coating before I buy it. Around 25% of shoppers in this group would prioritise convenience. |
Fish content varies by recipe: the Carrefour Classic’ and Auchan meunière-style products mentioned contain 70% and 80% cod respectively. The coating and other ingredients are part of the product you’re buying.
If you’re mainly looking for a piece of fish to season yourself, check the product name and ingredients list before comparing pack sizes.
Pêche Océan, Auchan and Findus all state that a few bones may occasionally remain, despite the “boneless” description.
Take care while preparing and serving the fish, especially when children are eating.
Products featured by Lidl and ALDI may only be available for a limited time and in selected stores. A page about a special offer doesn’t necessarily tell you what will be in stock on your next shopping trip.
Check the product, pack size and availability at the store concerned before planning your meal around it.
If the product you had in mind isn’t available when you visit, you may need to adapt your meal or choose something else.
According to Anses, histamine is not destroyed by cooking or freezing. Putting food back in the freezer therefore doesn’t make up for unsuitable storage conditions.
Transport frozen products promptly, put them away as soon as you can and follow the pack’s storage and defrosting instructions.
These examples show different pack sizes and ingredients to compare product by product. A brand or retailer alone doesn’t tell you everything about its full range.
Findus offers plain fish fillets as well as prepared recipes, including products made with cod.
Carrefour’s range includes breaded cod portions under the Carrefour Classic’ brand.
Pêche Océan offers 800 g bags of frozen cod fillet portions at E.Leclerc.
Auchan offers, among other products, a 400 g meunière-style cod fillet, which is different from a plain fillet.
Lidl has featured eight-piece boxes of breaded cod as part of a dated offer.
ALDI’s Golden Seafood selection includes different types of fish, such as cod loin, Alaska pollock fillets and breaded products.
This selection mainly features plain hake and salmon fillets in a range of pack sizes, as well as one breaded cod product. To choose between them, consider the type of fish, the pack size and how much time you have to prepare your meal.
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This plain fillet pack is worth considering if you’d like to prepare your own accompaniments and season the hake yourself.
400 g pack. Be aware that small bones may be present. The product instructions call for thorough cooking, storage at -18 °C and not refreezing after defrosting.
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This pack of plain salmon fillets could suit you if you can allow time to defrost them before your meal.
Four skinless fillets, 500 g. The product instructions say to defrost before cooking and cook thoroughly.
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These fillets are a good option if you’re looking for wild pink salmon rather than a breaded recipe.
Four fillets, 500 g. If the specific fishing area matters to you, check the pack label. The instructions say to defrost in the fridge before cooking thoroughly.
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The four-fillet pack could suit meals prepared one portion at a time. Check the pack for cooking instructions that work for you.
Four skinless fillets, 400 g. The stated origin is Iceland or Norway, so check the label on the pack you buy if the exact country matters to you. Thorough cooking is required.
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This product is for anyone looking for breaded pieces of fish rather than plain fillets to season themselves.
Ten pieces, 510 g. The coating includes breadcrumbs and wheat flour, among other ingredients. Check the allergen information and cooking instructions on the pack before preparing.
For an unprocessed fishery or aquaculture product sold in France, the DGCCRF says consumers must be given information including the commercial name, scientific name, production method and fishing area or country of farming. Also check any other information that applies to the product, including the fishing gear category and, where relevant, whether it was previously defrosted.
Follow the instructions on the pack you buy. The Findus products mentioned here say not to refreeze after defrosting. Also follow the storage and preparation instructions, as Anses reminds consumers that histamine is not destroyed by cooking or freezing.
No. Pêche Océan, Auchan and Findus all state that bones may occasionally remain. Bear this in mind when preparing and serving the fish.