Food · Fermented foods

Ma-dara (Pacific Cod)

まだら (Ma-dara)

Also known as: Ma-dara, Pacific cod, Gadus macrocephalus, 真鱈

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At a glance

CategoryFood
Japanese labeling nameまだら
Common Japanese notationsまだら, 真鱈, マダラ
OriginPacific cod (Gadus macrocephalus); cold-water species; principal landings Hokkaido, Tohoku; significant Russian and US Alaska imports
Typical functionsTara-nabe (cod hot pot) — winter regional specialty, Tara-no-shirako (cod milt) — premium chinmi delicacy, Tarafu (dried cod) and frozen fillet retail
Regulatory status in JapanStandard food labeling. Imported origin disclosure. Fish allergen recommended.

Madara (まだら / 真鱈) — Pacific cod (Gadus macrocephalus) — is the volume Japanese cod for tara-nabe (winter cod hot pot) and tara-no-shirako (cod milt — premium chinmi delicacy).

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.

  • Frozen tara fillet retail
  • Tara-no-shirako premium retail

What it is

Gadus macrocephalus Pacific cod.

Typical uses in Japanese products

Tara-nabe winter hot pot.

Tara-no-shirako chinmi.

For OEM: frozen fillet retail, shirako production OEM.

Regulatory classification in Japan

Standard food labeling. Imported origin disclosure. Fish allergen recommended.

Regulatory classification in other markets

EUMajor established global cod trade.
USAMajor US Pacific cod industry.
ChinaMajor global trade.
KoreaEstablished Korean daegu market.

Example products

Example finished products will be added after verification.

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Related ingredients

References

  1. MEXT Standard Tables of Food Composition — まだら 各形態

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

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