Tinned fish is swimming against the tide
Once a staple of wartime diets, it is now a social-media phenomenon
![Colourful packaging of 'Fishwife Tinned Seafood Co' produce. Two opens tins of Smoked Rainbow Trout surrounded by green boxes.](https://www.economist.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=1424,quality=80,format=auto/content-assets/images/20240803_CUP505.jpg)
Mei Liao pulls back the can’s lid to reveal sardines swimming in a garlic and herb butter. In other videos she stuffs russet-coloured smoked mackerel into a sandwich or arranges sprats with capers and cucumber. Ms Liao says tinned fish is often considered “akin to cat food or bunker food”. But, posting as @daywithmei, she has turned it into a viral treat: her videos have millions of views on TikTok.
Culture August 3rd 2024
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