To cook sardines on the barbecue, choose fresh sardines rather than a ready-to-eat tin. If certification is essential, check that the specific product you’re buying carries the blue MSC label: a brand name, country of origin or Label Rouge certification isn’t enough to confirm this. Tinned sardines are better suited to serving as a starter or alongside your barbecue.
You want to cook the fish directly on the barbecue and can keep it chilled until you’re ready to prepare it. If MSC certification matters to you, check the label on the sardines available at the fish counter too.
You’re looking for tinned sardines to serve with your other barbecue dishes. This ready-to-eat option isn’t a substitute for raw sardines intended for the grill. If the MSC label matters to you, check the tin you choose.
You want to tell the difference between MSC certification, origin information, a brand’s reputation and Label Rouge certification. Start by checking for the MSC logo on the specific product, then look at any other information that can help you decide.
Choose these: if you want to cook the sardines directly on the barbecue.
Bear in mind: they need to be kept chilled, prepared and cooked all the way through.
Choose these: if you’re serving the sardines as a starter or alongside your barbecue.
Bear in mind: this ready-to-eat option isn’t prepared in the same way as fresh fish cooked on the barbecue.
First decide whether your barbecue sardines will go on the grill or be served on the side. Then, if certification is part of your decision, check for the blue MSC label on the specific product you’re buying.
| Criteria | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| MSC certification | Look for the blue MSC logo on the specific product; don’t assume it’s certified based on the brand, origin or Label Rouge certification. | If certification is my top priority, I want to be able to confirm it on the product I buy. Around 31 % of consumers prioritise this proof of MSC certification. |
| Cooking on the barbecue | Choose fresh, unprocessed sardines rather than tinned; check the fish counter for information about whether they’ve been defrosted. | To cook sardines directly on the barbecue, I need fish that’s suitable for this method, not a ready-to-serve tin. This cooking method comes before other criteria for around 25 % of consumers. |
| Serving as a starter | Check that the product is ready to eat, along with the ingredients and any instructions for the tin you choose. | When the barbecue is being used for other food, I’d rather serve sardines as a starter or alongside the other dishes. Ease of serving is the main priority for around 25 % of consumers. |
| Keeping fresh fish chilled | Plan for chilled transport and storage between 0 and 4 °C, and consider how long you have before cooking. | If I can’t prepare fresh fish promptly, the storage requirements affect my choice. Around 19 % of consumers prioritise being able to manage storage and preparation. |
These labels and details don’t mean the same thing. According to the Marine Stewardship Council, the blue MSC label links a wild-caught seafood product to a certified fishery and a chain of custody that guarantees its origin.
If you’re looking for this certification, check for the MSC logo on the tin or on the display for the specific fish.
Ready-to-eat tinned sardines aren’t the same as raw sardines intended for the grill. For example, a listing for MSC fillets from Carrefour says they should be eaten cold.
Save this format for dishes served alongside the barbecue. If you want to cook the fish on the grill, choose fresh sardines.
Choosing fresh sardines means keeping them chilled and cooking them properly. Anses recommends storing them between 0 and 4 °C, cooking them all the way through and keeping food away from direct contact with the flames.
Plan to transport them chilled, store the sardines in the coldest part of the fridge and keep the grill away from direct contact with the flames.
A listing for MSC sardines doesn’t guarantee that the product will be available where you shop, or that another variety from the same brand will carry the same label.
Check availability, then confirm the exact product name and MSC logo on the product actually on offer.
These brands and retailers can help you find products to consider, but their name alone doesn’t certify all their sardines. Check the format and label on each product.
The retailer has listed a tin of MSC-certified sardine fillets in spring water.
This brand sells tinned sardines. Carrefour has listed one product of fillets in extra virgin olive oil as MSC-certified.
The brand sells products including tinned sardine fillets in olive oil. These are better suited to serving alongside a barbecue than as a replacement for fresh fish to grill.
No. Check for the blue MSC label on the specific product. According to the Marine Stewardship Council, this label is linked to a certified fishery and a chain of custody that guarantees the product’s origin. A brand name doesn’t mean that all its products are certified.
Check the fish identification and the catch information on display, then look for the MSC label if you want this certification. For unprocessed seafood sold in France, the DGCCRF outlines rules covering details including the commercial name, scientific name, production method, fishing area, fishing gear used and whether the fish has been defrosted.
Cook them all the way through without placing them directly over the flames. Anses also advises making sure fat doesn’t drip into the flames, and cleaning the grill and drip tray after use.
Anses recommends eating them on the day of purchase if possible, or within 48 hours. Transport them chilled and store them in the coldest part of the fridge, between 0 and 4 °C, until you’re ready to prepare them.