Supermarkets are increasingly replacing Atlantic mackerel with jack mackerel, a cheaper and less nutritious species, prompting concerns from consumer groups.
Key facts
- •Jack mackerel costs roughly one-third as much as Atlantic mackerel at the wholesale level.
- •Atlantic mackerel catches have exceeded scientific advice by an average of 39% over the past 15 years.
- •The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs changed labeling rules to allow the use of the term 'jack mackerel'.
- •Waitrose is phasing out tinned mackerel and has suspended sales of fresh, chilled, and frozen varieties.
- •The switch to jack mackerel is also occurring in supermarkets in the Netherlands and Sweden.
Supermarkets are increasingly replacing Atlantic mackerel with jack mackerel, a move that consumer group Which? has labeled as "skimpflation." The substitution, which affects products sold by suppliers like Princes and retailers such as Lidl, follows a significant decline in Atlantic mackerel stocks due to overfishing. While jack mackerel is more sustainable and significantly cheaper, it contains lower levels of essential nutrients.
By the numbers
Nutritional and Labeling Concerns
Jack mackerel contains approximately half the omega-3 and one-third the vitamin B12 found in traditional Atlantic mackerel. The species belongs to the Carangidae family, whereas traditional mackerel is part of the Scombridae family. Consumers have raised concerns regarding the clarity of product labeling, as well as differences in taste and texture compared to the original product. Princes, which announced its transition to jack mackerel last October, maintains that its products are clearly identified and meet Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) sustainability standards. The company stated the switch followed extensive testing and described the alternative as having a milder flavor.
Industry Impact and Sustainability
The shift away from Atlantic mackerel is driven by the depletion of stocks, which have fallen by roughly three-quarters over the last decade. The International Council for the Exploration of the Sea has advised a 70% reduction in catch levels for 2026 to allow for recovery. Because Atlantic mackerel has lost its MSC certification due to overfishing, retailers are turning to MSC-certified Chilean jack mackerel to meet sustainability policies. The Scottish Pelagic Fishermen's Association has criticized the move, arguing it unfairly punishes the UK industry while sourcing a product with a higher carbon footprint. Waitrose has taken a different approach, announcing in February that it would suspend sales of fresh, chilled, and frozen mackerel due to these environmental concerns.
Timeline
- October 2023Princes announced it was changing all tinned mackerel products to jack mackerel.
- December 2025The deadline after which UK labeling rules for Carangidae species were updated.
- February 2026Waitrose announced it would suspend sales of fresh, chilled, and frozen mackerel.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by BBC Business.
