Tuna is a pantry staple for millions of Americans, but not all cans are created equal. Some brands pack their tuna with sketchy additives, while others fail basic sustainability tests or contain concerning levels of mercury.
Knowing which brands to skip can protect your health and our oceans.
1. Bumble Bee’s Budget Line
Yikes! Bumble Bee’s cheapest tuna options often contain higher mercury levels than premium alternatives.
Their budget cans frequently use older, larger tuna that have accumulated more toxins throughout their lives. The company faced a price-fixing scandal in 2017, paying a $25 million criminal fine.
2. Chicken Of The Sea Chunk Light
Surprise! This familiar brand regularly fails transparency tests about their fishing methods. Their chunk light variety often contains yellowfin tuna caught using FADs (fish aggregating devices) that kill dolphins, turtles, and sharks.
The company’s sustainability claims don’t match their actual practices.
3. StarKist Chunk White In Vegetable Oil
Health alert! The oil in these cans isn’t your friend. StarKist uses cheap vegetable oils high in inflammatory omega-6 fatty acids, canceling out tuna’s natural omega-3 benefits.
The brand paid $100 million in a class-action lawsuit for underfilling their cans. Talk about fishy business practices!
4. Great Value (Walmart) Tuna
Penny-pinching has its price! Walmart’s Great Value tuna ranks among the worst for mercury content in independent testing.
Their supply chain documentation falls short of industry standards.
The texture? Often mushy and waterlogged.
5. Brunswick Canadian Style
Don’t be fooled by the maple leaf! Brunswick’s “Canadian Style” marketing disguises questionable sourcing practices. Their parent company has been cited for labor violations in their processing facilities.
The product contains excessive salt—sometimes double other brands. Your blood pressure will thank you for choosing another option.
6. Trader Joe’s Tongol Tuna
Hipster alert! Despite the cool packaging, Trader Joe’s Tongol tuna comes from a species with sustainability concerns. Tongol tuna populations aren’t monitored effectively, making conservation status uncertain.
Tests show higher histamine levels in some batches—bad news if you’re sensitive.
7. Sweet Sue Chunk Tuna
Who’s Sue and why is her tuna so sweet? This lesser-known brand uses questionable preservatives and often includes hydrolyzed soy protein—an unnecessary additive and allergen.
Their cans contain significantly more water weight than competitors. You’re paying tuna prices for H2O!
8. Genova Yellowfin in Olive Oil
Fancy packaging, troubling reality. Genova’s yellowfin tuna stocks face overfishing threats, yet they continue aggressive harvesting.
Their “premium” label doesn’t match their environmental report card. The olive oil they use? Often lower grade than claimed. Mercury levels tested higher than average in consumer watchdog reports from 2019.
9. Beach Cliff Fish Steaks
Run away from these “steaks”! Beach Cliff products contain some of the highest sodium levels on the market—over 400mg per serving.
They’re processed with excessive oils that mask the actual fish quality. The texture resembles cat food more than human food. Their parent company has faced multiple FDA warnings about facility cleanliness.
10. Polar Chunk Light Tuna
Budget doesn’t have to mean bad, but Polar missed the memo! Their tuna contains BPA in can linings despite industry moves away from this controversial chemical.
The company refuses transparency about their fishing methods. Some cans contained more scales and dark meat than acceptable.
11. Kroger Home Sense Tuna
Store brand sadness! Kroger’s budget line uses tuna from regions with minimal oversight. Environmental watchdogs have questioned their supply chain repeatedly.
The flavor? Bland at best, tinny at worst. Their chunky varieties often contain more flakes than chunks. Save a buck elsewhere.
12. Ocean’s Flaked White Tuna
Marketing trickery alert! “Flaked white” sounds fancy but actually indicates lower-grade tuna pieces pressed together. Ocean’s brand has been caught substituting cheaper species in their white tuna products.
Their sustainability claims lack third-party verification. Your tuna melt deserves better!
13. Sustainable Seas Chunk Light
Ironic name award winner! Despite the eco-friendly branding, Sustainable Seas has faced multiple challenges about their actual fishing practices.
Their “pole and line caught” claims don’t always check out.
The tuna itself? Inconsistent quality with reports of excessive liquid and small portion sizes.
14. Wild Planet’s Conventional Line
Plot twist! While Wild Planet’s premium products earn praise, their conventional line cuts corners. These budget options don’t follow the same rigorous standards as their flagship products.
The conventional line uses larger, potentially mercury-laden tuna. Stick to their top-tier options or look elsewhere.
15. 365 (Whole Foods) Skipjack In Water
Health food store shocker! Whole Foods’ house brand talks big about sustainability but provides minimal documentation.
Their skipjack tuna has tested positive for higher-than-average histamine levels in consumer watchdog reports. The price doesn’t match the quality.