Gransnet forums

Food

Where are the sardines?

(59 Posts)
Roses Tue 25-Nov-25 11:44:48

I have been looking for boneless sardines in oil for quite some time now
Each time I go in a different supermarket it’s the same bare shelf.
It seems a strange as there are plenty in the sea!

Ziplok Tue 25-Nov-25 11:49:33

I’m not sure, but I’m finding the same thing with tinned crab meat - can’t find any for love nor money.

GrannyGravy13 Tue 25-Nov-25 11:50:33

Our fish monger down the road had a plentiful supply of fresh sardines at the weekend 🤷‍♀️

MollyNew Tue 25-Nov-25 14:54:57

GrannyGravy13

Our fish monger down the road had a plentiful supply of fresh sardines at the weekend 🤷‍♀️

You're lucky to have a fishmonger nearby, we don't have one for miles. We have to rely on supermarkets and the choices seem to be reducing by the month.

MiniMoon Tue 25-Nov-25 15:26:57

The sardines have probably gone off with the Heinz sandwich spread.
I've been looking for a jar for ages, nobody seems to stock it.

Sarnia Tue 25-Nov-25 15:31:53

The influencers of this world have told their followers about the benefit of tinned fish. Tinned fish dinner parties are all the rage, apparently.
In Tesco's recently I was helping an elderly man looking for pilchards. When a member of staff came by we asked him why the shortage and that's what he told us. Not only is tinned fish hard to find but the prices have gone up as a result.
It isn't a shortage but the power of social media.

Siptree Tue 25-Nov-25 15:32:09

They have to make way for the Christmas fare a few things always go missing at this time of year, or end up somewhere unexpected!

Jaxjacky Tue 25-Nov-25 15:39:52

Our Tesco has sandwich spread MiniMoon, but no pilchards.

OldFrill Tue 25-Nov-25 15:45:00

Sarnia

The influencers of this world have told their followers about the benefit of tinned fish. Tinned fish dinner parties are all the rage, apparently.
In Tesco's recently I was helping an elderly man looking for pilchards. When a member of staff came by we asked him why the shortage and that's what he told us. Not only is tinned fish hard to find but the prices have gone up as a result.
It isn't a shortage but the power of social media.

Exactly this

LovesBach Tue 25-Nov-25 15:47:52

I have been trying for some time to get a supply of sardines in olive oil for my dog - she loves them, and they help her coat shine. She has a treat once a week. They were just over a pound a tin, but now the shelf is always bare, although the ticket is still there. I had no idea they were food for the chattering classes - I must rush off to tell the dog.

silverlining48 Tue 25-Nov-25 15:53:25

I couldn’t find mackerel but the shelves were filled with sardines instead. Dh bought a tin of crab in Aldi and it’s delicious, far better than i expected.
As for parsnips ….. it’s a mystery.

M0nica Tue 25-Nov-25 16:09:19

I have noticed the lack of pilchards on the supermarket shelf, we eat them regularly and have done so for years, but there is no lack of sardines in my local Lidl, nor my local Waitrose

shysal Tue 25-Nov-25 16:37:28

I was looking for boneless sardines for ages then found plenty for sale on line. I therefore bought 10 tins. I used either Amazon or Ebay, I forget which.

Sarnia Tue 25-Nov-25 16:40:22

LovesBach

I have been trying for some time to get a supply of sardines in olive oil for my dog - she loves them, and they help her coat shine. She has a treat once a week. They were just over a pound a tin, but now the shelf is always bare, although the ticket is still there. I had no idea they were food for the chattering classes - I must rush off to tell the dog.

My GC tell me that someone called Ali Hooke, one of the top influencers, has started a culinary trend called Tinned Fish Date Nights.
In my day if a would be suitor had tried to woo me with a sardine he would have got the elbow pretty smartish grin

25Avalon Tue 25-Nov-25 22:20:03

MiniMoon

The sardines have probably gone off with the Heinz sandwich spread.
I've been looking for a jar for ages, nobody seems to stock it.

You can get Heinz Sandwich Spread in Iceland for £1.70 a jar. I bought a couple of jars online about a month ago.

keepingquiet Tue 25-Nov-25 22:26:00

Blame Brexit...

25Avalon Tue 25-Nov-25 22:34:38

There is a shortage of Sardines from the main supplier, Morocco due to overfishing.

Allira Tue 25-Nov-25 22:58:37

25Avalon

There is a shortage of Sardines from the main supplier, Morocco due to overfishing.

Yes, I read this a little while ago so we bought six tins (adding to the shortage, sorry).

We're down to the last tin, having had sardines on toast for lunch today.

Kate1949 Tue 25-Nov-25 23:03:35

Tesco online have boneless sardines in oil.

mum2three Wed 26-Nov-25 05:56:00

These influencers have a lot to answer for, and it's very concerning that so many people take notice of them.

On the subject of tinned fish, it's a long while since I've been able to buy tinned salmon. It seems to be all tuna.

Chocolatelovinggran Wed 26-Nov-25 08:17:52

I like tinned mackerel. I wonder if the market for tinned fish ( other than tuna) is declining?
Tins of sardines, mackerel, pilchards, are the most often returned items from the parcels which we give out at foodbank.

LovesBach Wed 26-Nov-25 09:29:31

Sarnia

LovesBach

I have been trying for some time to get a supply of sardines in olive oil for my dog - she loves them, and they help her coat shine. She has a treat once a week. They were just over a pound a tin, but now the shelf is always bare, although the ticket is still there. I had no idea they were food for the chattering classes - I must rush off to tell the dog.

My GC tell me that someone called Ali Hooke, one of the top influencers, has started a culinary trend called Tinned Fish Date Nights.
In my day if a would be suitor had tried to woo me with a sardine he would have got the elbow pretty smartish grin

Whatever happened to flowers, and a box of Milk Tray?

LovesBach Wed 26-Nov-25 09:32:00

Chocolatelovinggran

I like tinned mackerel. I wonder if the market for tinned fish ( other than tuna) is declining?
Tins of sardines, mackerel, pilchards, are the most often returned items from the parcels which we give out at foodbank.

This is a sad reflection on the eating habits of the nation - all of these are excellent and nutritious foods, and offer a healthy, low fat meal.

MaizieD Wed 26-Nov-25 09:39:05

I'm intrigued by the notion of boneless sardines. Surely companies don't go to the bother of filleting the tiny ones we're accustomed to buying in tins?

leeds22 Wed 26-Nov-25 13:57:33

John West tins of sild in tomato sauce are a rare commodity at the moment. The John West section in our local Tesco is virtually empty and I don't think I can blame it on Brexit!