Who are these options for?

Shoppers who pay attention to organic ingredients

You want to know exactly whether the certification applies to the oil, tomatoes or other agricultural ingredients, rather than to the wild-caught mackerel.

Shoppers looking for a ready-to-serve recipe

You’re planning to fill a sandwich, make a salad or serve the fillets on toast. The recipe, pack size and how to store the tin after opening will all help you decide.

Shoppers who prefer to put their own meal together

You’re looking for plain fillets so you can choose the bread, vegetables and seasoning to take with you to the park.

What should you look for?

First, decide whether you want a recipe that’s already seasoned or fillets you can prepare yourself. Then read the label on the specific tin, especially if organic claims, allergens or how to store leftovers matter to you.

What to consider What to check Who it matters to
What the organic claim applies to Look for the agricultural ingredients described as organic and the certification code on the tin. Don’t confuse this with certification of the wild-caught fish. For my picnic, I want to distinguish certified ingredients from the mackerel itself. Around 33% of shoppers prioritise this distinction.
Ready-to-serve recipe Check that the pack size and seasoning suit the sandwich or salad you have in mind. If I’m eating in the park without making a sauce there, a recipe that’s already seasoned makes serving easier. This convenience comes first for around 27% of shoppers.
Ingredients you can customise Read the ingredients list and check the fat and salt per 100 g for the exact product. I’d rather choose my own vegetables and seasoning than start with a marinated recipe. This is a priority for around 20% of shoppers.
Opening and leftovers Check allergens, possible traces and storage instructions after opening. Choose a pack size to suit the people eating. If we might not finish the tin, I need to be able to keep the leftovers chilled. Around 20% of shoppers put this and allergen information first.

What should you avoid?

  • Assuming “organic ingredients” means “organic mackerel”

    According to Agence BIO, fish from wild capture cannot be certified organic. On a tin of wild-caught mackerel, the claim may apply to the agricultural ingredients added to the recipe, not the fish.

    Check the packaging for ingredients described as organic and the certification code.

  • Choosing a seasoned recipe without checking the ingredients

    Recipes made with oil and plain fillets don’t have the same ingredients list or necessarily the same nutritional values. The word “organic” alone doesn’t tell you how much fat or salt a product contains.

    Compare the ingredients and nutritional information per 100 g for the tins you’re considering. Choose plain fillets if you’d like to add your own seasoning.

  • Opening a large tin without planning how to store leftovers

    The relevant Saupiquet and Les Mouettes d’Arvor products need to be kept chilled after opening and eaten within the time stated on their packaging. Anses recommends limiting how long perishable foods are left at room temperature.

    Choose a pack size that suits your meal and plan how to keep any leftovers chilled, rather than leaving the tin in the sun or in a warm bag.

  • Assuming all recipes carry the same allergen information

    The Auchan product listing for Les Mouettes d’Arvor’s Brittany organic seaweed fillets states that they may contain traces of molluscs and crustaceans. This information applies to that specific product.

    Check the allergen and trace information on the tin you actually buy, even if you switch to a different recipe or pack size.

Brands to know

Saupiquet

Saupiquet offers wild-caught mackerel fillets in recipes that may include extra virgin olive oil, tomato or other organic agricultural ingredients, depending on the product.

  • Saupiquet states that 20% of the ingredients of agricultural origin in its olive oil recipe are organic.
  • This certification does not apply to the wild-caught fish. For the olive oil product, also follow the instructions for chilling and eating after opening.

Les Mouettes d’Arvor

The range includes 176 g tins with organic seaweed from Brittany or organic marinade. Choose according to the recipe you want and how many people you’re serving.

  • Auchan’s product listings for these recipes specify the organic agricultural ingredients and their certification.
  • The seaweed product may contain traces of molluscs and crustaceans. Check the information on your chosen tin and follow the storage instructions after opening.

Petit Navire

Petit Navire’s Plain Steamed Mackerel Fillets are an unseasoned base for putting together a sandwich or salad.

  • Petit Navire states that this product contains 99% mackerel fillets and salt.
  • This product isn’t presented as a recipe made with organic ingredients, so plan your chosen accompaniments separately.

Auchan

Auchan’s 120 g tin of plain mackerel fillets is a simple starting point, ready to pair with the accompaniments you have planned for your picnic.

  • Auchan’s product listing states that this product contains 99% mackerel and salt.
  • It isn’t presented as organic. After opening, follow the chilling and use-by instructions on the tin.

Mackerel on Joybuy

Matching products will be available soon.

Frequently asked questions

Can wild-caught mackerel be certified organic?

No. According to Agence BIO, fish from wild capture cannot be certified organic. On a tin of wild-caught mackerel, a claim such as “organic olive oil” applies to the named agricultural ingredient, not the fish.

How can you identify the organic ingredients in a recipe?

Read the product name, ingredients list and certification information on the specific tin. The recipes featured by Saupiquet and in Auchan’s product listings distinguish the organic agricultural ingredients; their composition varies from one product to another.

How should you store a tin taken to the park?

Follow the instructions on your chosen tin, both before and after opening. Auchan’s listing for Les Mouettes d’Arvor mackerel with seaweed says to store the unopened tin at room temperature, away from moisture, then keep it chilled and eat it within two days of opening. Anses recommends limiting how long perishable foods are left at room temperature.

Which allergens should you check for?

Mackerel is a fish, and other allergen information depends on the recipe. Auchan’s listing for Les Mouettes d’Arvor’s Brittany organic seaweed fillets specifically warns that they may contain traces of molluscs and crustaceans. Check the information on the tin you buy.

Does a recipe made with oil have the same nutritional values as plain fillets?

Not necessarily. Saupiquet states that its organic olive oil recipe contains 35 g of fat per 100 g, compared with 19 g per 100 g in the product listing for Petit Navire’s Plain Steamed Mackerel Fillets. Compare the nutritional information, especially the salt content, for the specific products you’re considering.