Everyone has a can of sardines in a cupboard. I’m not sure, though, that before buying it, we took the time to read and make sense of what was written on the label. It takes much longer than just opening it. And anyway, we know that canned sardines are good for your health, very inexpensive, and really convenient. An analysis guaranteed to be 100% free of Patrick Sébastien.
The next time you buy canned sardines, be sure to check the label. This will help you avoid eating sardines that have been previously frozen, are packed in low-quality oils, or come from irresponsible fishing practices.
An article to help you learn about the sardine industry and shop smart. As a bonus, here’s my favorite recipe for sardine pâté.
A trade war
The sardine is a pretty little fish: streamlined body, silvery sides, dark back, and white belly. It’s easy to spot at the fishmonger’s. It’s a shame, though, that it loses its head and tail when it’s canned. It’s easy to spot at the fishmonger’s. It’s a shame, though, that it had to lose its head and tail to be canned. If the label simply says “sardines,” it’s definitely Sardina pilchardus, the common sardine caught off the Atlantic coast and in the waters of the Mediterranean. If the fish comes from Peru, the front of the can will include “Sardinops sagax” as a subtitle—the name of a Pacific cousin.
This distinction in labeling between our sardines and those from distant seas stems from an economic and legal battle settled by the judges of the World Trade Organization (WTO) more than twenty years ago—in short, the world of yesteryear: one of globalized trade and the application of international law. On one side was the European Commission, which authorized only Sardina pilchardus to bear the name “sardine.” On one side was the European Commission, which allowed only Sardina pilchardus to be labeled as “sardines.” On the other was Peru, whose fishing and canning industry was determined to sell its canned sardines in Europe as… canned sardines.