For a solo meal, first compare the salt content per 100 g with the amount you plan to eat. “Plain” and “no added salt” don’t mean the same thing as “reduced salt”. Auchan’s product page lists 0.21 g of salt per 100 g for Connétable lemon mackerel in a 130 g tin. Kerbriant lists 0.35 g per 100 g for its 118 g plain jar with no added salt. Your choice will also depend on the recipe you want, how much fish you’ll actually eat and, for recipes containing potassium chloride, any precautions you need to take with this ingredient.
You’d rather check the figures than rely on the recipe name. The product pages for Auchan, Kerbriant, Petit Navire and Saupiquet list 0.21 g, 0.35 g, 1.0 g and 1.2 g of salt per 100 g respectively for the products featured here.
You want to finish the tin in one meal, or know what to do with any leftovers. Compare the net weight, the amount of fish if stated, and the storage instructions after opening.
You’re looking for a short ingredients list and the taste of plain mackerel. Even so, check the “salt” line in the nutritional information: the plain Petit Navire and Saupiquet recipes featured here both contain salt.
When choosing a tin for a solo meal, start with what matters most to you — salt content, portion size or recipe — then check the nutrition label, pack size and ingredients together.
| Criteria | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Salt content | The “salt” value per 100 g and how much you plan to eat; don’t infer this value from the word “plain”. | If I want to limit the salt in my portion, I need a figure to compare recipes. Around 42% of consumers put salt content at the top of their list of concerns. |
| Meal size | The net weight, the amount of fish if stated, and the storage instructions after opening. | I’d rather have a portion I can finish on my own, without needing to store leftovers. Portion size would be the top priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Recipe and ingredients | The ingredients list, especially the marinade and whether it contains potassium chloride. | For my meal, taste and ingredients matter more than the salt figure alone; I also need to spot any ingredients I should avoid. Around 25% of consumers would prioritise the recipe. |
The official product pages list 1.0 g of salt per 100 g for Petit Navire plain steamed fillets and 1.2 g per 100 g for Saupiquet plain fillets. So the recipe name alone isn’t enough to help you choose based on salt content.
Compare the “salt” value per 100 g, then factor in how much you’ll actually eat.
Kerbriant’s plain jar is labelled “no added salt”, but its product page lists 0.35 g of salt per 100 g.
Use the claim to understand the recipe and the nutritional information to compare salt content.
Connétable’s lemon marinade contains potassium chloride. The Anses warns that potassium chloride-based salt substitutes may pose risks for some people.
If your potassium intake is restricted or medically monitored, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before regularly choosing a recipe that contains it.
Saupiquet’s product page lists a 176 g pack and says to keep the product in the fridge and eat it within two days of opening.
If you’re only going to eat part of the tin, check the storage instructions and plan when you’ll use the rest.
The details below apply to the specific products mentioned, not to every product from each brand.
A 130 g tin of organic lemon-marinated fillets, labelled “reduced salt”.
A 118 g plain jar labelled “no added salt”.
A 110 g tin of plain steamed mackerel fillets.
Plain mackerel fillets in a 176 g pack.
No. Kerbriant describes its plain jar as “no added salt”, while still listing 0.35 g of salt per 100 g. To find the declared amount, check the “salt” line in the nutritional information.
No. The pack size and recipe alone aren’t enough to tell you. Petit Navire’s product page lists 1.0 g of salt per 100 g for its 110 g tin of plain steamed fillets. Also compare how much you plan to eat.
Connétable’s lemon recipe contains it, and this ingredient may require particular precautions. The Anses warns that potassium chloride-based salt substitutes may pose risks for some people. If your medical condition or treatment means you need to monitor your potassium intake, seek appropriate professional advice.
Follow the instructions on the packaging of the product you’ve chosen. For its 176 g plain fillets, Saupiquet says to refrigerate the product after opening and eat it within two days.