Sales of fresh mackerel have taken a hit as some shops are halting their sales due to overfishing concerns. It’s a worrying trend that’s leading supermarkets to fill their shelves with a cheaper and less nutritious alternative: jack mackerel. This shift is being labeled as “skimpflation,” a term that captures the essence of consumers getting less value for their money. Sue Davies, head of food policy at Which?, pointed out that jack mackerel contains about half the omega-3 and a third the vitamin B12 compared to traditional mackerel. That’s a significant downgrade for all the fish lovers out there.
But wait, it doesn’t stop there. People have been complaining about the differences in taste and texture. Some even raised eyebrows over how clearly the replacement fish is being labeled on the cans. Princes, one of the big names in tinned fish, announced last October that it would be switching all its products to jack mackerel, stating that this species meets the Marine Stewardship Council’s standards. But here’s the kicker: despite its name, jack mackerel isn’t even a mackerel! It belongs to the Carangidae family, while traditional mackerel is from the Scombridae family. Talk about a mix-up!
Under UK law, until December 2025, these Carangidae fish can only be sold under names like “jack,” “scad,” “trevally,” or “horse mackerel.” The potential for confusion is real, and the Jack Mackerel Association is already sounding the alarm. CEO designate Hannah Fennell mentioned that this change follows the so-called “mackerel war” due to sustainability policies. Interestingly, Chilean jack mackerel is MSC-certified, unlike its overfished cousins.
In a notable move, Waitrose announced in February that it would stop selling fresh, chilled, and frozen mackerel due to overfishing concerns. Tinned products will gradually be phased out as stocks run out. The Marine Conservation Society hailed this as a “leading and decisive” action. This change isn’t just a UK issue; supermarkets in the Netherlands have also pulled Atlantic mackerel from their shelves, and at least one store in Sweden has made the switch to jack mackerel.
Meanwhile, scientists and fishermen are celebrating the return of tuna, but animal rights activists are calling for a shift in focus, suggesting that the upcoming mackerel festival should celebrate cabbage instead. It’s quite a whirlwind out there, isn’t it? With all these shifts and changes in the seafood aisle, it’s hard not to wonder what will happen next. Will consumers adjust to the new normal, or will there be backlash against these changes? Let’s keep an eye on this evolving situation…
Kaynak: Orijinal Haber