Consumer group Which? has warned that the sale of jack mackerel as an alternative to tinned mackerel is an example of “skimpflation”, amid its appearance on more supermarket shelves.
The concern centres on jack mackerel being a cheaper species of fish and, according to the consumer group, less nutritious than the product shoppers may expect when buying tinned mackerel.
Which? has characterised the shift as “skimpflation”, a term used in consumer reporting to describe situations where the quality, specification or substance of a product is reduced or changed while it remains on sale to shoppers.
The warning is significant because tinned fish is a regular supermarket staple, and changes to species or nutritional content can matter to consumers comparing value, diet and quality. In this case, the issue raised is not simply that a different fish is being sold, but that it is described as cheaper and less nutritious.
The material supplied does not identify individual supermarket chains, product prices or specific brands involved. It also does not include any response from retailers or producers.
The latest known position is that jack mackerel is being seen on more supermarket shelves, with Which? flagging the practice as a consumer concern linked to skimpflation.
