For a quick meal that you can season to your own taste, start by comparing plain mackerel fillets: some products contain little more than fish and salt. If by “premium” you mean an official mark of quality, check that the tin actually carries the Label Rouge. If you’d rather have a ready-seasoned recipe, read the ingredients and allergen information. In a household with someone who is pregnant or breastfeeding, or a young child, this choice does not replace the fish-consumption precautions that apply to each person.
For a salad, a slice of toast or a quick dish, plain fillets let you choose the accompaniments separately. The products described by Petit Navire, Saupiquet and Auchan have short ingredient lists, which you can compare tin by tin.
In these situations, it’s worth taking the relevant precautions into account when choosing fish. Anses recommends varying the species and sources of fish, among other things, and sets out specific precautions for raw, undercooked or smoked fish.
Label Rouge, a marinade and a grilled preparation meet different needs. According to the French Ministry of Agriculture, Label Rouge identifies products of superior quality compared with similar everyday products; it does not, on its own, describe the ingredients in every tin.
Choose these if: you want to season a quick meal yourself.
Bear in mind: you’ll still need to prepare an accompaniment; salt content and the amount of fish vary between products.
Consider this if: you’re looking for an official quality mark on the specific tin you’re buying.
Keep in mind: this mark is no substitute for checking the ingredients and is not an individual health guarantee.
Choose this if: you’d like a ready-made flavour without having to prepare the sauce yourself.
Check: the marinade may add ingredients or allergens, including mustard or sulphites, depending on the recipe.
| What to check | Look for | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Ingredients and allergens | Ingredient list, declared allergens and salt per 100 g. | If I want to season the meal myself or need to account for an allergy, the exact ingredients matter more than the recipe name. Around 42% of consumers are said to put ingredients and allergens at the top of their list of concerns. |
| Pack size and leftovers | Drained net weight and storage instructions after opening. | When I need to get a meal on the table quickly, I prefer a quantity that suits the portions planned, so I’m not left with an opened tin. Pack size and how to handle leftovers are said to be a priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Flavour and quality mark | Whether the tin actually carries the Label Rouge, or the ingredients in a seasoned recipe. | If I want a meal with a set flavour, I distinguish between a marinade and an official quality mark rather than relying on the word “premium”. Flavour or a quality mark is said to be the top priority for around 25% of consumers. |
According to the French Ministry of Agriculture, Label Rouge is an official mark indicating superior quality compared with similar everyday products. An elaborate marinade serves a different purpose and may change the ingredient list.
Decide whether your priority is a quality mark, a short ingredient list or a ready-to-serve recipe, then check the specific product.
The product information for Carrefour Extra plain grilled fillets mentions possible traces of mustard and milk. The Eco+ white wine recipe, meanwhile, lists sulphites.
Read the ingredients and allergen information on every tin, even when the name sounds simple.
Tins may contain a covering liquid, so the total weight alone does not tell you how much fish you’ll get.
Where this information is provided on the tin, compare the drained net weight of the products you’re considering.
Saupiquet and Auchan plain fillets advise refrigerating the product and eating it within two days of opening.
Choose an amount that suits the meal or plan when you’ll use the leftovers, always following the instructions on the tin you buy.
Any portion not used within the stated time may go to waste.
The range lets you compare plain steamed fillets with seasoned recipes.
Its plain fillets offer a useful comparison with the range’s flavoured recipes.
The plain grilled mackerel fillets are an example of a smaller pack, listed by Carrefour as 85 g drained net weight.
The 120 g plain fillets offer another product with a short ingredient list.
The plain and sauce-based products show two different ways of preparing tinned mackerel.
A product of plain fillets carrying the Label Rouge and MSC labels lets you check the marks displayed on a specific product.
The Anses recommendations presented here do not impose a general ban on tinned mackerel. However, pregnant people should follow the advice for groups who may be more vulnerable, including varying the species and sources of fish, and distinguishing tinned fish from raw, undercooked or smoked fish.
According to the French Ministry of Agriculture, Label Rouge indicates superior quality compared with similar everyday products. Check that the specific product you’ve chosen carries the mark, then check its ingredients, allergens and nutritional information separately.
Compare the ingredients, allergens, salt per 100 g and, if the tin contains a covering liquid, its drained net weight. Two products described as “plain” may have different ingredients or allergen information.
Follow the instructions on the tin you’ve bought. Saupiquet and Auchan plain fillets advise refrigerating the product and eating it within two days of opening.