Who are these tinned products suitable for?

People in a rush in the morning

If you want to make toast or a cold plate without cooking the fish, tinned fillets are ready to serve. When choosing a tin, consider how much you’ll use for breakfast and what to do if you don’t finish it.

People who pay attention to ingredients

The plain Petit Navire and Auchan recipes mentioned here contain 99% mackerel and salt. A mustard recipe contains other ingredients, so compare the ingredients list, nutritional information and allergens for each product rather than relying on the recipe name alone.

People who prefer pre-seasoned fillets

Grilled or mustard fillets let you enjoy a different flavour without making a sauce. However, check the ingredients and allergen information: these vary from one recipe to another, even between grilled products.

What should you look for in a breakfast option?

First, choose the type of recipe you’ll want to serve in the morning. Then check the quantity of fish, the ingredients and the storage instructions on the specific tin.

Plain fillets

Choose these if: you want a simply seasoned base for toast or a cold plate.

Bear in mind: if you’d like more flavour, you’ll need to add your own accompaniment or seasoning.

Grilled fillets

Choose these if: you prefer a grilled flavour without a full sauce.

Bear in mind: ingredients vary. Saupiquet lists mackerel, water and salt in its plain grilled product, while Carrefour Extra’s product also contains spices and may contain traces of mustard and milk.

Fillets in sauce

Choose these if: you’d like a pre-seasoned recipe, such as one with mustard.

Bear in mind: the sauce is included in the product’s weight. E.Leclerc’s €co+ mustard recipe contains 56.2% mackerel fillets and 9.1% Dijon mustard.

Criteria What to check Who is this for?
Serving and size Check how much you plan to serve and the storage instructions once the tin is open. I want to open a tin and serve breakfast without cooking, without leaving a partly used portion in the cupboard. Around 31% of consumers might prioritise this convenience.
Ingredients and allergens Read the ingredients list, the salt content per 100 g, and any allergen or trace warnings. If I choose a seasoned recipe, I want to know exactly what it contains before serving it. This check could be a priority for around 31% of consumers.
Nutritional information Compare the protein, fat and salt per 100 g in the products you’re considering. I want to include mackerel in my breakfasts while varying the types of fish I eat throughout the week. Nearly 23% of consumers might prioritise checking this nutritional information.
Quantity of fish For a recipe in sauce, check the proportion of mackerel in the ingredients; for a product in liquid, also check the net drained weight. When I’m choosing between a tin of plain mackerel and one in sauce, I want to know how much fish it contains rather than relying on the total weight. Around 15% of consumers might make this their main criterion.

Mistakes to avoid

  • Relying on the total weight of the tin alone

    The liquid or sauce is included in the product’s weight, but it doesn’t count towards the quantity of fish. In E.Leclerc’s €co+ mustard recipe, the fillets make up 56.2% of the product.

    To choose the right quantity for your meal, check the proportion of mackerel in recipes in sauce. For a product packed in liquid, also check the net drained weight on the label, as specified by the DGCCRF.

  • Assuming “plain” or “grilled” always means the same ingredients

    The plain Petit Navire and Auchan fillets mentioned here contain 99% mackerel. Carrefour Extra’s grilled product contains 64% fillets, as well as water, salt and spices. These figures apply to specific recipes.

    Read the ingredients and nutritional information for the product you’re buying, even if you’re already familiar with another tin from the same brand.

  • Overlooking allergen information on a seasoned recipe

    The €co+ mustard recipe contains mustard. Carrefour also warns that its plain grilled Carrefour Extra fillets may contain traces of mustard and milk.

    Check the highlighted ingredients and any “may contain” warnings on each tin. Don’t assume that one recipe has the same ingredients as another.

  • Storing an opened tin as if it were unopened

    For the products mentioned here, Saupiquet and Auchan advise keeping them in the fridge and eating them within two days of opening.

    Follow the instructions on your tin and choose a size you can finish or use again within the stated time.

    A portion left over could go to waste if you don’t plan how to use it after opening.

Brands and recipes to compare

Petit Navire

The range includes plain steamed fillets as well as other recipes. The 110 g plain steamed product is one option if you’re looking for a simple recipe.

  • According to Petit Navire, this product contains 99% mackerel and salt. It provides 21 g of protein and 1.0 g of salt per 100 g.
  • The ingredients and nutritional information for this tin don’t apply to the brand’s other recipes.

Saupiquet

The 120 g plain grilled fillets are worth considering if you want a grilled flavour without a full sauce.

  • Saupiquet lists mackerel fillets, water and salt as the ingredients in this recipe.
  • After opening, the brand advises keeping this product in the fridge and eating it within two days.

Carrefour Extra

According to Carrefour, the plain grilled mackerel fillets have a net drained weight of 85 g.

  • The product information lists 64% grilled fillets, along with water, salt and spices.
  • Carrefour warns that this specific product may contain traces of mustard and milk.

Auchan

The 120 g plain mackerel fillets offer another simple recipe to compare with the retailer’s grilled products.

  • For this plain product, Auchan lists 99% mackerel and salt, as well as 22 g of protein and 0.9 g of salt per 100 g.
  • Ingredients vary by recipe. For this plain tin, Auchan advises keeping it in the fridge and eating it within two days of opening.

E.Leclerc : Pêche Océan et €co+

The retailer offers plain fillets under the Pêche Océan brand and a mustard recipe under €co+.

  • E.Leclerc’s product information for the €co+ mustard recipe lists 56.2% mackerel fillets and 9.1% Dijon mustard.
  • This recipe in sauce shouldn’t be compared with plain fillets by total weight alone. Check the ingredients and quantity of fish too.

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Frequently asked questions

Can tinned mackerel count as a portion of fish?

Yes. Manger Bouger includes tinned fish among the ways you can eat fish and gives 100 g as a guide for one portion. Its recommendations suggest eating a variety of fish throughout the week, with two portions, one of which should be oily fish such as mackerel.

How should you store mackerel after opening?

Follow the instructions on the tin you’ve bought. For the products mentioned here, Saupiquet and Auchan advise keeping them in the fridge and eating them within two days of opening. Don’t substitute these instructions with those for a different recipe.

What should you look for on the label when comparing two tins?

Start with the ingredients, the quantity of fish and the nutritional information per 100 g. The DGCCRF specifies that the net drained weight must appear on the label when a product is packed in liquid. Also check the date shown and the allergen information on each tin.

Can a grilled recipe mention mustard or milk?

Yes. A grilled recipe may carry a trace warning: Carrefour warns that its plain grilled Carrefour Extra fillets may contain traces of mustard and milk. This doesn’t apply to all grilled mackerel, so check the information on the product you’re considering.