Tinned ‘Mackerel’ No Longer Contains Real Mackerel As Population Crashes

Tinned fish sold in the UK as "mackerel" has been found to not actually contain real mackerel. Companies such as Princes, Lidl, and Waitrose have substituted true mackerel for Chilean jack mackerel, which contains less omega-3, vitamin B12, and more calories per 100g. This move has been criticized by experts for reducing the nutritional quality of the product and increasing the likelihood of "skimpflation," where ingredients are changed to cut costs.

The decrease in mackerel stocks, with a 72% decline since 2016, has raised concerns about the sustainability of the fishing industry. Quotas for mackerel have been set higher than recommended levels for years, leading to depletion of the species. In addition to overfishing, the fishing industry also causes numerous bycatch deaths of other marine species each year, further impacting the ecosystem.