The Medical Wellness Association has declared 2026 as “The Year of the Sardine,” citing growing evidence that the nutrient-dense fish could play a key role in improving metabolic health worldwide.

In a statement, the association said the campaign aims to educate consumers globally on the wellness benefits of eating real, nutritionally dense foods, highlighting sardines as one of the most affordable and accessible options available.

“Given the consistent worsening of wellness metrics across most of the developed world, it is clear the wellness community needs to course-correct its recommendations to the public. Metabolic Health is rapidly being revealed in research as an underlying key to wellness, from preventing classic metabolic diseases such as Type 2 Diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty liver, to cardiovascular disease, certain cancers, and even kidney and liver dysfunction,” said Dr. Christopher Breuleux, president of the U.S.-based MWA.

MWA board member and faculty member James Michael Laffety said sardines offer a practical response to rising metabolic disease rates due to their nutritional profile and affordability.

“Sardines represent one of the stronger options to combat metabolic disease. By consisting of proteins and Omega 3 fats and loaded with a high density of essential vitamins and minerals; coupled with being one of the most cost-effective proteins available, it really is a ‘superfood’. We believe declaring 2026 as the year of the sardine, is a simple and clear call to action consumers can easily act upon,” Laffety said.

He added that sardines have gained increased attention on social media and global platforms, with physicians and wellness advocates promoting trends such as the “three-day sardine fast.” According to the association, the sardine market has grown at an annual rate of 7.5% in recent years, even before heightened focus on metabolic health.

“Globally, in recent years the sardines’ market has increased at an annual rate of +7.5%, pre-dating the increased focus on metabolic health. The MWA forecasts annual growth to become double-digit, or 10%+ from 2026 onward, given increased education and awareness, and the recent changes to the US Food Pyramid as deployed last week. And this is a good harbinger for improved wellness across the world,” Lafferty said.

As part of its review of sardine products, the MWA awarded its “Superfood” seal in mid-2025 to Mega Prime Foods, citing the purity of its South Pacific fishing waters and its vertically integrated “catch to can in 12 hours” production process.

Mega Prime Foods, which marks 50 years of operations, said it embraces the Filipino value of malasakit, or giving back to society without expectation of return. The company said it is expanding efforts to support research on food choices and metabolic health through clinical studies in partnership with major universities.

“It all starts with our cultural value of Malasakit, and we are proud to be serving consumers in the Philippines and around the globe, high quality and high value foods that improve their health. We see the “Superfood” seal from the MWA, and being the sole brand in the world to earn this, as the culmination of our commitment to our consumers for the past 50 years. My father and mother started this mission, and it is my honor to continue it for another 50 years and beyond,” said Mega Prime Foods CEO Michelle Tiu Lim Chan.

The MWA said it hopes the global campaign will encourage consumers to make informed, affordable dietary choices as part of a broader shift toward preventive health.