Where are the sardines?

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.

I love Sandwich spread too. There’s a substitute type in the Polish section in our Tesco (that’s Polish as in the country, not the stuff for furniture!) It’s in the chiller shelves, as it’s fresh and in a plastic tub. Almost identical, just slightly less tangy.
I see Sainsbury’s and Asda have it too.

I eat a tin of sardines in tomato sauce on toast once each week. I give one of the sardines to our cats to share - they love them. I don’t buy boneless varieties as the (mashed) bones contain lots of goodness.

I usually find that if something is completely missing from a shelf in Tesco it means it will be back in a week or 2 at a higher price. It just happened with bleach, previously sold at 50p came back 2 weeks later at 65p.

Costco used to have them. Skinless and boneless in olive oil. Filleted.
From Portugal.
Very nice.
Went to a different branch last time. None there.

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.

Lidl usually has a good supply of all sardines, including those in olive oil

Hi MiniMoon,

Waitrose have jars of Sandwich Spread, I passed them 2 days ago.

I'm finding opposite, can get sandiness in oil that I don't like but carn't get them in tomato sauce.

amazonia

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.

Lidl usually has a good supply of all sardines, including those in olive oil

Thank you - I will try there.

I could only find Sandwich Spread in Sainsburys for the last few years, but saw it in Tesco recently as well. I always buy a few jars at a time just in case it disappears again!

There weren’t any in olive oil in my local French supermarket last week. However, fortunately, I still have some in my pre’s cupboard.

I did not realise that sardines were in short supply! Long may it last! I have not touched those little horrors since I was seven, and certainly don't miss them.

Pilchards have disappeared too!

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.

I found sandwich spread recently, IIRC in Sainsbury’s. About twice a year I buy a jar and make a pig of myself, it lasts a max of about 2 days!

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.

I bought some today in Morrisons.

I think I saw Heinz Sandwich Spread in M/S?

Shops like B&M & Poundland always have H sandwich spread. Yummy 🌷

Eggs are also a storage problem at my local supermarket. Seems that the supplier’s aviary has suffered bird flu.

Xanthe Clay did a review of the tinned sardines available in supermarkets. She reported that John West were the best, better than more expensive brands. JW seem to have been in short supply ever since!

I must live in the wrong area. None of the stores any of you have mentioned stock sandwich spread here. My DH has a part time job in Waitrose and they don't have it.
Unfortunately our branch of Iceland closed a couple of years ago.
I'm at a loss to know where else to look.
I'm toying within the idea of ordering g a Heinz to Home build your own box.

Go to Amazon, they have loads, I just entered "tinned fish".

Really Choc, you have cats that would eat sardines in TOMATO SAUCE?!! Weird . . .

That's one of the more unlikely headings for a topic?! We get s'market deliveries, from Tesco, and an occasional top-up from S'bury, M&S or Waitrose, whichever we're near. I hadn't noticed an absence of sardines, as we cannot eat them, like I think all such fish, you're eating the wretched things for about 3 days afterwards! (or at least, since we get past a certain age, now well past it!).

But we explored a new Aldi the other week (excellent, and lots of cheaper items) - as we didn't know the layout, we did all the aisles, and there was a big section of tinned fish (does ANYONE eat anchovies??!).

Re the sandwich spread, can't say as I've noticed, but one thing I've not often found for several years is Heinz potato salad, and even less so their Veg salad (small tins) which I've always loved.

Back to sardines, pretty sure the online direct fish sales sites (Rockfish, Cornish Fisheries, etc), sometimes feature sardines, but not cheap of course. Lots of other great fish, and helps to maintain those Cornish boats!

Google sardine shortage, I did several weeks ago. Global warming, Moroccan waters etc.

I prefer Mackerel but do like Sardines in oil/water/olive oil in stock, for just when I fancy a tin! During lockdown I ate a tin of Sardines every day and peanut butter, don't know why, I just had a craving for the damn things. Fortunately they were in stock and my sister got me a pile. It lasted about 3 weeks, then it was yuck! Same as the peanut butter. Now it's as and when I fancy either!

Haywards sweet and mild silverskin onions, haven't seen them for the last few years! (Apart from the jar I have stashed!) They were my everyday essential, what's happened to them?

I am missing tins of John West’s sild and brisling - not as big as a sardine and easier to eat. They seem to have disappeared altogether. John West appear to be the only supplier.

Anchovies, used to hate them due to the saltiness and my one experience of them On a pizza! Put me off pizza for a while.

However, I have plenty of anchovies in stock now and capers, ONLY for puttenesca! Have tried Lloyd Grossmans version and thought it bland, googled, found a recipe, tweaked it to my taste buds. (Whole garlic bulb not a few cloves) and WOW!