When choosing sardines for meals for a large family, first check for the blue MSC logo on the specific tin. According to the Marine Stewardship Council, it identifies wild-caught fish from a fishery assessed against its standard and covered by a chain of custody. Then compare the net or drained weight, recipe and instructions for use after opening. A family pack or an organic label alone does not prove that the sardines carry MSC certification.
When shopping for family meals, you want to be able to spot the certification on the tin you’re buying, rather than relying on a brand’s general commitments. The Marine Stewardship Council says its blue logo applies to products carrying the MSC label.
If you’re planning several meals, you’ll want to compare the number of tins and their net or drained weight. A multipack doesn’t remove the need to check the certification of the exact product.
Choose between whole sardines and fillets based on the dishes you have planned, then check the ingredients, salt content and instructions for use after opening. Auchan’s product listings for Parmentier and Parallèles show how ingredients can differ between products carrying the MSC label.
Start by choosing a product with the MSC logo, then check that its pack size and recipe suit the meals you have planned.
| Criteria | What to check | Who is this for? |
|---|---|---|
| MSC label | Look for the blue logo on the tin or on the listing for the exact product, then check that it matches the pack size you’re choosing. | For family meals, I want to see the certification on the sardines I buy, rather than just know about the brand’s commitments; around 36% of consumers would make the MSC label their top priority. |
| Quantity and pack size | Compare the number of tins and the net or drained weight shown for each pack size. | When I’m planning several meals, the amount in each tin matters when organising my shopping; around 29% of consumers would put this need first. |
| Type and recipe | Check whether they’re whole sardines or fillets, then read the ingredients, especially the oil or sauce. | Depending on the meals I have planned, I prefer to choose the type of sardines and recipe my family will use; around 21% of consumers would prioritise this aspect. |
| Salt and storage | Check the salt per 100 g and the instructions for storing the tin after opening. | I want to be able to compare recipes using their nutritional information and know how to store an opened tin; around 14% of consumers would prioritise this information. |
A brand may make certain commitments or sell some MSC-certified products, but that doesn’t mean all its sardines carry the label.
To identify a tin as MSC-certified, look for the blue logo on that specific tin or its product listing, and check the product name.
The number of tins and their packaging don’t, on their own, tell you whether the product is certified.
Check for the MSC logo on the multipack or each variant before comparing quantities.
According to Auchan’s product listings, Parmentier MSC whole sardines and Parallèles MSC fillets have different ingredients. Their stated salt values are 1.2 g and 1 g per 100 g, respectively.
Compare the ingredients and nutritional values per 100 g if the recipe or salt content matters to your choice.
A product you spot online will only suit your meals if the one you choose matches the pack size and certification you’re looking for.
Before completing your shop, check the product name, pack size and MSC logo on the item in your basket.
These brands and retailers offer examples of pack sizes and recipes to compare. Their inclusion here doesn’t mean that all their sardines carry the MSC label.
Auchan offers, among other products, a 90 g tin of Parmentier MSC whole sardines and 105 g tins of Parallèles MSC fillets.
Carrefour has listed organic Connétable MSC sardines as well as MSC sardine fillets.
Connétable offers a range of sardine recipes, including an organic MSC-certified extra virgin olive oil variety listed by Carrefour.
Saupiquet offers whole sardines and fillets in a range of recipes.
E.Leclerc offers Pêche Océan sardines in single tins and multipacks.
According to the Marine Stewardship Council, it indicates that the wild-caught fish comes from a fishery assessed against its environmental standard. Products sold with this label are also covered by its chain of custody. Check for the logo on the product you choose.
No, you need to check the two labels separately. Some products listed by Auchan carry both the organic and MSC labels, but that doesn’t tell you anything about a different tin.
For prepacked food sold in France, the DGCCRF says the label must include details such as the product name, ingredients, nutritional information, net quantity and a date appropriate to the product. Allergens must be highlighted. To compare two recipes, also check the salt per 100 g and, if needed, the drained weight.
Follow the instructions on the tin you’ve bought rather than assuming the same storage time applies to every product. For example, Auchan’s listing for Parmentier MSC sardines says to refrigerate them after opening and eat them within two days.