UK tinned mackerel often contains different fish, consumers warned

Supermarkets across the United Kingdom are selling tinned products labelled as mackerel that contain a different, less nutritious fish, a practice consumer advocates have labelled "skimpflation." Major supplier Princes has switched its branded tinned mackerel range from Atlantic mackerel to Chilean jack mackerel, a distinct species that offers significantly lower levels of key nutrients. The substitution affects products stocked by major retailers including Tesco, Sainsbury's, and Lidl. According to product packaging and analysis cited in reports, Chilean jack mackerel contains about half the omega-3 fatty acids and roughly a third of the vitamin B12 found in traditional Atlantic mackerel. Industry figures indicate wholesale Chilean jack mackerel costs approximately one-third as much as Atlantic mackerel, yet some retailers sell the tinned products at similar prices. The switch has been driven by the severe depletion of UK Atlantic mackerel stocks. Data from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea shows stocks have fallen by about three-quarters in the past decade, with catches exceeding scientific advice by an average of 39% since 2010.