The European Commission has announced that it has approved the addition of the traditional specialty guaranteed "Marinated Sardine" to the list of Romanian products recognized at the European level.

"Marinated Sardine" is made by marinating sprat (resulting in three different types depending on the ingredients used for marinating) and then stuffing it with the desired filling.

By adding a wine-based sauce, sunflower oil, or sunflower oil with hot pepper over the marinated and flavored sprat, the product acquires distinct tastes with specific organoleptic qualities.

Traditionally, the following ingredients are used for marinating the fish: non-iodized salt, wine vinegar, white wine, sugar, sunflower oil, sweet paprika, hot pepper, black peppercorns, bay leaves, whole pepper, and coriander seeds.

The product name indicates the specificity of the raw material – sprat with head and gutted – and the preparation method (marinating).