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Tinned fish in olive oil: what's on UK shelves

Published 29 October 2026

Most UK supermarkets sell at least one tinned fish in olive oil. The tins below are packed only in olive oil or extra virgin olive oil, with no sunflower or "vegetable" oil.

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Lots of tinned fish comes in sunflower oil, brine or water. This guide shows the olive oil ones we've checked, and how to read the tin.

Which tinned sardines come in olive oil?

These sardines are packed in olive oil. We checked each list.

The Parmentier tin from Lidl uses extra virgin olive oil. The John West tin is boneless fillets. The Delicius tin is grilled before it's packed.

Mackerel in olive oil

These are from Sainsbury's, Morrisons, Tesco and Asda. The Princes tin uses extra virgin olive oil.

Tuna in olive oil

Tuna in olive oil is harder to find than tuna in sunflower oil. Here is one:

Tuna in spring water or brine has no added oil. That's another easy option.

Anchovies in olive oil

Anchovies are salty, so a few go a long way. Use them in pasta, on toast or in a dressing.

See our full tinned fish in olive oil list for more.

Is "in olive oil" always just olive oil?

Not always. Check the list on the back.

Some tins say "in olive oil" on the front but list more than one oil. Others say "in oil" or "in vegetable oil". UK rules say vegetable oils must name the plant. So you might see "sunflower oil" or "vegetable oils (sunflower, rapeseed)".

Watch out for flavoured tins too. "In tomato sauce" or "with chilli" tins can add sunflower oil, sugar or flavouring. Some list "chilli oil" without saying which oil it is.

The tins on this page list only olive oil or extra virgin olive oil.

How to check a tin of fish

  1. Find "Ingredients".
  2. Look at the oil. Is it "olive oil" or "extra virgin olive oil"?
  3. Check for a second oil, like sunflower or rapeseed.
  4. Check for sugar or flavouring in flavoured tins.

Ingredients go in order of weight. So if olive oil is second, there is more olive oil than salt.

You might also see a percentage, like "Olive Oil (28%)". This shows how much of the tin is oil.

Why do some people choose olive oil tins?

Some people avoid seed oils, like sunflower oil. Some like the taste of olive oil. Some use the oil from the tin to cook with. We don't make claims either way. We just show what's in each tin.

Where can I find tinned fish in olive oil?

  • Lidl: Nixe and Parmentier sardines
  • Sainsbury's: mackerel, tuna and anchovies
  • Tesco: Princes jack mackerel and John West anchovies
  • Waitrose: sardines
  • Morrisons: mackerel
  • Asda: Princes mackerel and John West sardines
  • M&S: Cantabrian anchovies
  • Ocado: Delicius sardines

Stock changes, so check the shelf near you.

Olive oil or extra virgin olive oil?

Both are olive oil. Extra virgin olive oil is the top grade. It is made only by pressing olives, without refining. "Olive oil" on its own is often a mix of refined olive oil and virgin olive oil. Both pass our rules.

How long does tinned fish keep?

Tins keep for a long time. Check the best before date on the tin. Once open, put any leftovers in a sealed tub in the fridge. Follow the advice on the tin for how long to keep them.

Easy ways to eat tinned fish

  • sardines on rye toast with lemon
  • mackerel mashed with Greek yoghurt for a pâté
  • tuna on a jacket potato
  • anchovies melted into tomato sauce for pasta

Try our jacket potato with tuna and sweetcorn or tuna and sweetcorn pasta bake.

More lists

FAQ

Are sardines in olive oil seed oil free? Only if olive oil is the only oil. Check the list for sunflower or rapeseed oil.

Is tuna in sunflower oil a seed oil? Sunflower oil is a seed oil. So tuna in sunflower oil has a seed oil in it.

Can I use the oil from a tin of fish? Yes. Many people use it in dressings or to fry with.

Which tinned fish is packed in extra virgin olive oil? Parmentier sardines, Princes jack mackerel and M&S Cantabrian anchovies, from the tins we've checked.

Sources

  • GOV.UK, Food labelling: ingredients list (order of weight and percentages): https://www.gov.uk/food-labelling-and-packaging/ingredients-list
  • legislation.gov.uk, Food information rules, Annex VII (how vegetable oils are named): https://www.legislation.gov.uk/eur/2011/1169/annex/VII

At the tinned fish aisle? Take a photo of the label in The Better Basket, and we'll check the oil for you.

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