In an exploration of the sustainability and quality of supermarket tinned and jarred tuna, a review has spotlighted the best and worst options available. The selection process emphasised not just taste and aroma but also the methods of catch, focusing on the environmental impact and sustainability of the fisheries on offer.
Canned tuna can often be a challenging product to consume straight from the tin, leading to a perception of low quality and prompting the popularity of tuna recipes that mask its stronger attributes with sauces and seasonings. Despite this, species and brand variations lead to stark differences in quality, taste, and ecological impact.
Two key species often found in supermarkets are skipjack and albacore tuna. Skipjack, with its soft, flaky texture, is noted for being one of the faster-growing species. In contrast, albacore is a larger, slower-growing species with softer, pale flesh, raising concerns about overfishing. Both species have varieties rated as sustainable according to the Marine Conservation Society’s (MCS) Good Fish Guide, which evaluates seafood sustainability through a traffic-light system.
According to the guide, the most sustainable tuna is those caught using the pole and line method, especially when coupled with Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification. Other methods, such as hook and line, can be less sustainable if they utilise techniques like longline fishing, which typically results in higher by-catch. On the other hand, purse seine fishing, especially without using fish aggregating devices (FADs), reduces unintended by-catch significantly, making it a more environment-friendly choice.
Top Picks for Tuna in Brine or Water
Overall Winner: Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Albacore Tuna Steak
Priced at £2.55 for 160g, this albacore tuna has become a favourite due to its large, flaky steaks with a sweet aroma and a mild, well-balanced taste. It is caught by the pole and line method in the north-east Atlantic or Pacific Ocean, with MSC certification enhancing its environmental credentials.
Best Value: Co-op Responsibly Sourced Tuna Chunks in Brine
At £2.70 for three tins of 145g, this skipjack offers good value with its sweet aroma, appealing taste and firm texture, although there are some mushier pieces. Its pole and line capture in the Pacific contributes to its sustainability ranking.
Additional Reviews
Ocado Tuna Chunks in Brine
For £4.20 for a set of four 145g cans, Ocado’s skipjack tuna boasts a sweet and pleasant taste, flaky texture, and saline, fishy aroma. Caught with FAD-free purse seine methods in the western central Pacific, it is also MSC-certified.
Waitrose No 1 Albacore Tuna in Spring Water
Costing £4.25 for a 220g jar, the carefully hand-prepared chunks of albacore provide a slightly pungent scent and mealy texture, with a sweet, fishy taste. This product is caught by hook and line in Atlantic regions, bearing the MSC certification.
Lidl Nixe Tuna Chunks in Spring Water
Priced at £2.49 for a set of four 145g tins, Lidl’s large, flaky skipjack chunks initially taste sweet but leave a bitter aftertaste. The tuna is captured using purse seine methods in the Pacific and bears MSC certification, nearing it the best bargain status.
John West No-Drain Tuna Chunks in Spring Water
This skipjack tuna, priced at £3.75 for a set of three 100g packets at Morrisons, features small, flaky pieces with a traditional sweet taste. It holds an MSC certification.
Tesco Tuna Chunks in Brine
At £2.49 for four 145g cans, the mix of firm chunks and mushy skipjack, with a familiar fish aroma and sweet flavour, is caught using FAD-free purse seine methods in the Pacific and is MSC-certified.
Asda Tuna Chunks in Brine
For 65p per 145g can, this skipjack displays a mushy texture and strong fishy smell, with unspecified catch methods, though marketed as responsibly sourced.
Minerva Tuna Steak in Spring Water
Available for £2.25 per 200g tin, Minerva offers small skipjack flakes with an earthy aroma and firm, chewy bite, caught by purse seine nets across major oceans and MSC-certified.
Morrisons Tuna Steak in Spring Water
Costing £1.40 per 110g can, these large skipjack chunks carry a metallic scent and a firm texture. They are caught using pole and line across various Atlantic regions.
Reporting based on coverage first published by theguardian.com.