Mackerel as food

Mackerel is an important food fish that is consumed worldwide.[1] As an oily fish, it is a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids.[2] The flesh of mackerel spoils quickly, especially in the tropics, and can cause scombroid food poisoning. Accordingly, it should be eaten on the day of capture, unless properly refrigerated or cured.[3]

Atlantic mackerel on ice in a fish shop.

Smoked mackerel

Raw Atlantic mackerel

Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz)
Energy	858 kJ (205 kcal)
Fat	13.89 g
Protein	18.60 g
Vitamins	Quantity %DV^†
Vitamin A	167 IU
Vitamin D	107% 643 IU
Minerals	Quantity %DV^†
Calcium	1% 12 mg
Iron	13% 1.63 mg
Magnesium	21% 76 mg
Phosphorus	31% 217 mg
Potassium	7% 314 mg
Sodium	6% 90 mg
Zinc	7% 0.63 mg
Other constituents	Quantity
Water	63.55 g
Units μg = micrograms • mg = milligrams IU = International units
^†Percentages are roughly approximated using US recommendations for adults. Source: USDA Nutrient Database

Mackerel preservation is not simple. Before the 19th-century development of canning and the widespread availability of refrigeration, salting and smoking were the principal preservation methods available.[4] Historically in England, this fish was not preserved, but was consumed only in its fresh form. However, spoilage was common, leading the authors of The Cambridge Economic History of Europe to remark: "There are more references to stinking mackerel in English literature than to any other fish!"[5] In France mackerel was traditionally pickled with large amounts of salt, which allowed it to be sold widely across the country.[5]

In Japan mackerel is commonly cured with salt and vinegar to make a type of sushi known as saba-zushi. Historically saba-zushi originated in Kyoto as a solution for transporting mackerel to the inland city, which otherwise would not have made the journey from the coast still fresh.[6] The road linking Obama bay and Kyoto is now also called "mackerel road" (saba-kaido).

There is a large variation in the mercury levels found in mackerel. These levels differ markedly for different species, and even for the same species in different locations; however, the strongest positive correlation seems to be connected to the species' size (the larger species being higher on the food chain).[7] According to the United States Food and Drug Administration, king mackerel is one of four fishes, along with swordfish, shark, and tilefish, that children and pregnant women should avoid due to high levels of methylmercury found in these fish and the consequent risk of mercury poisoning.[8][9]

Comparative mercury levels[10]

Species		Mean ppm	Comments
	Tilefish	1.450	Gulf of Mexico
	Swordfish	0.995
	Shark	0.979
	King mackerel	0.730
	Bigeye tuna	0.689	Fresh/frozen
	Atlantic Spanish mackerel	0.454	Gulf of Mexico
	Spanish mackerel	0.182	South Atlantic
	Chub mackerel	0.088	Pacific
	Herring	0.084
	Flatfish *	0.056	Flounder, plaice and sole
	Atlantic mackerel	0.050
	Catfish	0.025
	Salmon *	0.022	Fresh/frozen
	Sardine	0.013
	Tilapia *	0.013
* indicates methylmercury only was analyzed (all other results are for total mercury)

More images
Okhotsk atka mackerel, Japan Rye bread with smoked "pepper mackerel", Denmark Grilled mackerel with dill butter, Sweden Roasted horse-mackerel with fried garlic and pepper, Spain Godeungeo jorim made with mackerel, radish and seasonings, Korea

References

Citations

1. Croker, Richard Symonds (1933). The California mackerel fishery. Division of Fish and Game of California. pp. 9–10.
2. Jersey Seafood Nutrition and Health, State of New Jersey Department of Agriculture, archived from the original on 2017-07-01, retrieved 2012-04-06
3. "Scombrotoxin (Histamine)". Food Safety Watch. November 2007. Archived from the original on 2010-12-09.
4. Croker (1933), pages 104–105
5. Clapham JH, Postan MM and Rich EE (1941) The Cambridge economic history of Europe CUP Archive, pp. 166–168. ISBN 978-0-521-08710-0.
6. Itou, K; Kobayashi, S; Ooizmi, T; Akahane, Y (2006). "Changes of proximate composition and extractive components in narezushi, a fermented mackerel product, during processing". Fisheries Science. 72 (6): 1269–1276. doi:10.1111/j.1444-2906.2006.01285.x.
7. Storelli MM, Barone G, Piscitelli G, Marcotrigiano GO (2007). "Mercury in fish: concentration vs. fish size and estimates of mercury intake". Food Addit Contam. 24 (12): 1353–7. doi:10.1080/02652030701387197. PMID 17852384.
8. FDA. "Mercury Levels in Commercial Fish and Shellfish (1990-2010)". Archived from the original on 2013-01-15. Retrieved 2011-09-14.
9. Natural Resources Defense Council. "Protect Yourself and Your Family". Archived from the original on 2017-11-06. Retrieved 2019-04-18.
10. The mercury levels in the table, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from: Mercury Levels in Commercial Fish and Shellfish (1990–2010) U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Accessed 8 January 2012.

Sources

• Keay JN (2001) Handling and processing mackerel Torry advisory note 66.

External links

• Mackerel nutrition facts