Sainsbury's Taste the Difference Smoked Hebridean Salmon was the best-rated of seven RSPCA assured products in Good Housekeeping's smoked salmon top 10.

RSPCA Assured fish high on food mags' Christmas menu

Seven RSPCA Assured salmon products have featured in a smoked salmon top 10 picked by Good Housekeeping magazine, the certification organisation said.

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BBC Good Food and Olive magazines also chose an RSPCA Assured salmon as their best smoked salmon product for Christmas. They both crowned the Co-op’s Irresistible Beech and Oak-Smoked Salmon as their top pick.

The seven RSPCA Assured products that made the top 10 in Good Housekeeping, which awards points out of 100, were: 

  • Sainsbury's Taste the Difference Smoked Hebridean Salmon (81/ 100)
  • Lidl Deluxe Smoked Salmon (Scottish Gravadlax) (80/ 100)
  • Tesco Finest Smoked Scottish Salmon (77/ 100)
  • Tesco Finest Smoked Salmon with Whisky (76/ 100)
  • Co-op Irresistible Beech and Oak Scottish Smoked Salmon (73/ 100)
  • Sainsbury’s St. Clements Smoked Salmon (72/ 100)
  • Aldi Specially Selected Gin Infused Smoked Salmon (66/ 100)
Bleiker’s salmon topped the Good Housekeeping list, while the Co-op’s Irresistible Beech and Oak-Smoked Salmon was a winner with both BBC Good Food and Olive.

The winner was Bleiker’s Smokehouse Yorkshire Peat Smoked Salmon (87/100), produced at North Allerton in North Yorkshire, with Asda Mild and Delicate Smoked Salmon (84/100) in second place.

‘A delicate smokiness’

“Our consumer panel assessed the appearance, aroma, flavour and texture of each smoked salmon,” wrote Good Housekeeping.

“We were looking for delicately sliced pieces of fish with a healthy colour and appetising marbling throughout. The flavour should offer a delicate smokiness with an even balance of salt, and finish with a slightly sweet, fishy note.”

The smoked salmon brands were among 28 RSPCA Assured festive products that have won awards or made it into recommended lists.

Higher welfare standards

RSPCA Assured chief executive Clive Brazier, said: “We all know that Christmas 2020 is going to be an unusual affair. But one thing people needn’t worry about is how to have a higher welfare celebration. Whether having to entertain for more or fewer guests than usual, there are now more award-winning supermarket products carrying the RSPCA Assured label than ever before.

“All of these ‘wins’ are testament to the continued commitment of our members to farming their animals to higher welfare standards, during what has been an incredibly tough and challenging year for all of us.”