Tinned food revival (but this time it’s eel and caviar)

Tinned foods are having a revival – but it’s not down to the popularity of baked beans and peach halves.

now, shoppers are turning to tins for more upmarket foods such as smoked eel, octopus, duck confit, and even caviar.

Sales of tinned pulses and beans have also seen a surge in sales as the number of vegetarians and vegans continues to rise, alongside those who are cutting back on meat for environmental and health reasons.

And canned or frozen foods are selling more widely due to rising concern over food waste, as much fresh produce goes off and is thrown away before it is eaten.

After many years of decline as families turned to fresh produce, sales are now growing with 3billion cans a year being sold – at a retail value of £2.3billion. The change in shopping habits may also reflect a shift towards cooking from scratch rather than buying ready-made sauces.

And tinned foods may be better for your finances. industry experts claim it is possible to save £15 a month – £180 a year – by replacing some fresh produce with canned alternatives. Figures from retail analysts Kantar show a 10.5 per cent rise in sales of tins of pulses and beans such as chickpeas, lentils and kidney beans.

There has been a 4.5 per cent rise in sales of canned fish, which can be high in healthy omega 3 fatty acids. Canned vegetables have seen a 2.4 per cent rise in sales, with tinned tomatoes up by 2.2 per cent and canned fruit up by 1.5 per cent.

Another benefit of tinned foods is the variety a long shelf life offers. industry group Love Canned Food said: ‘Research around consumer perception of canned products shows that 31 per cent believe canned food to be unhealthy and not as good for them as fresh – but this is a myth.’ There is evidence to suggest tinned

‘Save £180 a year buying tinned food’

foods can be healthier than fresh. For example, tinned tomatoes have higher levels of lycopene, which plays a part in neutralising cancer risk chemicals in the body.

The tin revival has been helped by cook, author and anti-poverty campaigner Jack Monroe. She has highlighted the struggles of poor parents bringing up children on canned food and developed a series of healthy and tasty recipes using tinned food, which provided a lifeline to many.

Her new book, Tin Can Cook, including 75 recipes such as Catalan Fish Stew, Pina Colada Toast and Red Lentil and Mandarin Curry, is out next month.