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Food

Where are the sardines?

(60 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!

Uppercase79 Wed 26-Nov-25 16:27:10

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!

LovesBach Wed 26-Nov-25 16:15:01

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.

sandye Wed 26-Nov-25 15:53:48

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

Warmglovesandsocks Wed 26-Nov-25 15:43:44

Hi MiniMoon,

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

amazonia Wed 26-Nov-25 15:15:06

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

welbeck Wed 26-Nov-25 15:00:20

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.

missdeke Wed 26-Nov-25 14:57:10

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.

Chocolatenoodle8 Wed 26-Nov-25 14:42:37

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.

Nanny100 Wed 26-Nov-25 14:17:42

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.

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!

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?

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.

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?

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.

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.

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

Tesco online have boneless sardines in oil.

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.

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

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

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

Blame Brexit...

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.