Food · Fermented foods

Gomasaba (Blue Mackerel)

ごまさば (Gomasaba)

Also known as: Gomasaba, Blue mackerel, Spotted chub mackerel, Scomber australasicus, 胡麻鯖

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At a glance

CategoryFood
Japanese labeling nameごまさば
Common Japanese notationsごまさば, 胡麻鯖, ゴマサバ
OriginBlue mackerel (Scomber australasicus); pelagic mackerel species; harvested in Japanese coastal waters; **distinct from masaba (Scomber japonicus chub mackerel)**
Typical functionsSaba shime (vinegar-cured mackerel) — sushi and home preparation, Saba canned products, Shioyaki and miso-ni preparations
Regulatory status in JapanStandard food labeling. **Mackerel is JAS-recommended-disclosure allergen.** Distinct from masaba.

Gomasaba (ごまさば / 胡麻鯖) is blue mackerel (Scomber australasicus), distinct from masaba chub mackerel. Volume mackerel for shime-saba, saba canning, and standard mackerel preparations. **Mackerel is JAS-recommended-disclosure allergen.**

Classification

Tags below link to other ingredients sharing the same attribute, so you can pivot from one ingredient to its peers.

Used in (typical product categories)

Finished-product categories that commonly include this ingredient in Japanese-market formulations.

  • Fresh and frozen gomasaba retail
  • Pre-prepared shime-saba retail

What it is

Scomber australasicus blue mackerel, distinct from masaba (S. japonicus).

Typical uses in Japanese products

Shime-saba.

Canned saba.

Shioyaki, miso-ni.

For OEM: shime-saba production, canned saba production.

Regulatory classification in Japan

Standard food labeling. Mackerel allergen recommended disclosure. Distinct from masaba.

Regulatory classification in other markets

EUEstablished global mackerel trade.
USAEstablished US mackerel market.
ChinaMajor global trade.
KoreaEstablished trade.

Example products

Example finished products will be added after verification.

All brand names and product names referenced anywhere on this site are the property of their respective owners. Example entries are provided for informational purposes only and do not imply endorsement.

References

  1. MEXT Standard Tables of Food Composition — ごまさば

Last updated: 2026-04-28. Ingredient entries are reviewed at least annually against current regulatory listings.

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