Kerryn Boogaard Kerryn Boogaard
Beverly Goldsmith Beverly Goldsmith
Zoe Bingley-Pullin Zoe Bingley-Pullin

Frozen fish convenience comes at a cost:

Price and nutritional value of 101 frozen fish products reviewed
By Motherpedia
Date: March 22 2012
Tags: food, cooking, recipe,
Editor Rating:
shopping-fish

CHOICE says shoppers who opt for frozen fish products can pay up to 35% more for the packaged variety versus a similar fresh product found in the supermarket deli. The People’s Watchdog also says that some packaged fish products contain 50% or less fish.

 
The review of 101 frozen fish products in the 211.5 million dollar industry compared price and fish content as well as nutrients of uncoated, seasoned, battered and crumbed fillets and fish fingers found in supermarket freezers.  
 
Of the battered, crumbed and/or seasoned white fish products, Pacific West’s Fish Fillets in a Parsley Crumb had the lowest fish content with 45% fish while I&J Flame Grills (Garlic & Parmesan and Lemon Pepper & Garlic varieties) had the highest fish content at 84%. All plain, uncoated fillets and seasoned salmon fillets contain 90% or more fish.
 
“Many frozen fish products are as much batter, crumbs and other coating ingredients as they are fish. The more fish in a product, the more of the beneficial nutrients of fish you’ll be getting, so it pays to check the fish percentage in the ingredients label,” says CHOICE Spokesperson, Ingrid Just.
 
CHOICE says that, while frozen fish products offer convenience, unit pricing shows they can be a lot more expensive than fresh fish.
 
For example, CHOICE shoppers paid $10.99 for a 250g pack of Woolworths Select Lemon & Dill Salmon Fillets (or $43.96 per kg). By comparison, fresh boned and skinned Tasmanian Atlantic Salmon fillets from the same supermarket’s deli cost $28.99 per kg.
 
“While keeping a packet of fillets or fish fingers in the freezer makes life easier, you can save by buying fresh fish and making your own sauce using a handful of inexpensive pantry ingredients,” says Ms Just.
 
CHOICE says nutrition claims on many fish products claiming to be a ‘source of’ or ‘rich in’ omega-3 can also be confusing.  
 
The government’s National Health & Medical Research Council suggests a dietary target for long chain omega-3 fatty acids of 610mg per day for men and 430mg per day for women. However, only 15 products in the review had 430mg or more omega-3s per serve.²
 
“You’d need to eat much more than a serve of many of these frozen fish products to achieve your daily target. For example, men would have to eat 16 Birds Eye Fish Fingers and women 11 to reach that target, despite the product’s claim to be a ‘good source of omega-3’.
 
While all the claims reviewed by CHOICE conformed to requirements of the Food Standards Code, the people’s watchdog advises anyone eating fish to boost their omega-3 levels to check the nutrition panel to see how much omega-3 is contained in each serve. 
 
“There’s no doubt that grabbing a packet of frozen fish fingers or fillets in the supermarket has its advantages. Before you throw them in the trolley however, take a closer look at what you’re really buying. Some of these products are definitely better than others when it comes to value for money and health benefits,” says Ms Just.   

Do you buy frozen fish? Do you have a fish recipe your kids love to share with other mums?

Further information:

www.choice.com.au/frozenfish

Share This Tweet This Email To Friend
Recent Comments
0 Total Comments
Post a Comment
* your email address will not appear

Please enter the word you see in the image below:


Post a Comment
* your email address will not appear

Please enter the word you see in the image below:33343


Your Comment has been posted
Related Articles
kids-cook
Will kids be more willing to eat properly if they're…
Read more
calorie-counting
Labels advertising high-energy foods such as confectionary and breakfast cereals…
Read more
peanut-allergy
Potential allergy sufferers could soon avoid the risk of a…
Read more
Cry babies

Dry your eyes!
The newest additions are on their way from the Babies who cry real tears!

Shipping-containers-freight-wallpaper-preview

Latest Tech Used In Shipping Containers
Read how the shipping industry has revolutionised

Motherpedia cover-2

Win 1 set of a 4-book hardcover illustrated boxed set
Barbara Murray’s new 4-book Sound Stories is perfect for parents and educators and could assist with NAPLAN results

Motherpedia cover (4)

Where to celebrate Oktoberfest Australia
Get ready for this celebration!

Motherpedia cover-4

A Fortnight of Foodie Experiences at East Village
A taste of East Village. What's in it for me?

Globber my too fix up cover

We Try: Globber My TOO Fix Up
A scooter that grows with your child

Throw a winning cricket pitch

3 Steps to a Winning Backyard Cricket Pitch
Ex-Adelaide Oval legend curator Les Burdett shares his tips for getting your backyard cricket pitch test match ready this summer

A bike that follows your kids life cycle - motherpedia - cover

A Bike That Follows Your Kids Life Cycle
Check out the Bunzi 2-in-1 gradual balance bike!

Moonlight lifestyle

Moonlight Cinema to bring…
Moonlight Cinema announces brand new Western Sydney venue

Screen shot 2019-11-26 at 8.29.12 am

Your Magical Christmas Wonderland…
Adventure park is about to light up the night sky with its "Christmas Festival of Lights"

Screen shot 2019-11-21 at 11.11.36 am

The Preston Market Gets…
It's time to feel pumped up for the holiday season!

Bruno-kelzer-zqzuigxcvrq-unsplash

Bunnings team members get…
Help raise funds by buying a snag or donating at your local store.