People making lunch at their desk
If you are adding tuna straight to a salad, wrap or sandwich, look for a pack explicitly described as no-drain or ready to eat. Check the exact pack for an MSC claim rather than assuming the format is certified.
Who is each format for?
Shoppers checking sustainable sourcing
The MSC ecolabel is a pack-specific check. The Marine Stewardship Council’s 2026 UK Tuna Shopper Report counted 138 MSC-labelled products among 271 shelf-stable tuna products available to shoppers, or 51%; a brand or retailer statement alone does not identify which pack carries the label.
People preparing lunches in advance
Plain chunks or steaks can be portioned into pasta, jacket potatoes, salads or sandwiches. Compare the liquid, ingredients and nutrition information on the variant you intend to use.
What should you check before buying?
Start with sourcing on the exact pack, then decide whether you will assemble lunch at your desk or prepare it beforehand.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| MSC sourcing | Look for the MSC ecolabel or an explicit statement that the tuna comes from an MSC-certified fishery. Check the exact variant, not just the brand’s sourcing policy. | I want a certification claim I can check on the tuna I am buying. |
| Preparation | Check for “No Drain” or wording that says the pack is ready to eat without draining. For other cans, check whether the liquid suits how you plan to use the tuna. | If I am assembling lunch at my desk, I would rather not drain a can. For lunches made ahead, I can portion plain tuna during preparation. |
| Ingredients and portion | Compare spring water, brine, oil and any added seasoning on the ingredient list. Read the pack size, nutrition information and allergen declaration for the exact recipe. | A single flavoured can might cover my lunch, but I need to check its ingredients; a plain multipack gives me a different way to portion it. |
| After opening | Read the pack’s refrigeration and use-by instructions once opened. Plan how you will store any unused tuna. | If I will not use the whole can at lunch, I need somewhere to refrigerate the remainder as directed. |
Common buying mistakes
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Assuming a sourcing policy certifies every pack
Tesco’s named own-brand spring-water tuna page describes its marine-supply-chain work, while M&S describes its Forever Fish policy for its named spring-water chunks. Neither statement, on its own, establishes an MSC claim for that pack.
If MSC certification matters to you, check the exact variant for the ecolabel or an explicit MSC-certified-fishery statement.
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Choosing a can that needs more preparation than expected
Named no-drain and ready-to-eat products are described as usable without draining; other tuna packed in water, brine or oil may call for a separate draining step.
For lunch assembled at your desk, check the preparation wording. If you make lunch in advance, choose the plain format and liquid that suit your recipe.
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Assuming flavoured and plain tuna have the same ingredients
The named Sainsbury’s Dill & Pickle can includes mustard seed and lists 0.80g salt per can. Those details do not describe every flavoured tuna or a plain spring-water variant.
Read the current ingredients, allergen declaration and nutrition information on the exact pack.
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Overlooking instructions for opened tuna
The named John West listing on Joybuy says to refrigerate its tuna after opening and consume it within 2 days.
Check the instructions on your pack and arrange refrigerated storage if lunch will leave any tuna unused.
Brand and retailer references
John West
Its named No Drain Tuna Chunks in Spring Water MSC 3 x 100g pack is an option to examine for a desk lunch.
- The named pack is described as MSC and no-drain by John West and Asda.
- Check the certification and ingredients on the exact John West variant; the claim does not describe every product in the range.
Princes
Princes lists MSC tuna chunks in brine, spring water and sunflower oil, as well as drained tuna steaks.
- Its April 2026 product catalogue identifies these MSC-labelled formats, giving shoppers different liquids and cuts to compare.
- Princes’ statement that it has met its tuna-wide MSC commitment is a company claim; check the exact pack and its preparation instructions.
Sainsbury’s
Its named 80g Dill & Pickle tuna can is a flavoured, single-serving option.
- Sainsbury’s states that the tuna in this product comes from an MSC-certified fishery and describes the can as ready to eat without draining.
- The recipe includes mustard seed; check the ingredients and allergen information on the particular can.
M&S
Its named spring-water chunks are a plain tuna option for lunches prepared in advance.
- M&S describes the named product as pole-and-line caught and sourced under its Forever Fish policy.
- That product statement is not an MSC claim; check the pack separately if MSC certification is your priority.
Tesco
Tesco lists own-brand tuna alongside branded products, including named MSC-labelled alternatives.
- Its named own-brand spring-water page identifies skipjack tuna in spring water, while its tuna range lists branded MSC products.
- Do not transfer a branded pack’s MSC claim to Tesco own-brand tuna; check the item you select.
Asda
Asda lists the named John West No Drain Tuna Chunks with a Little Spring Water MSC 3 x 100g pack.
- Asda’s listing describes that John West pack as ready to eat, no-drain and from an MSC-certified fishery.
- The listing supports a claim about that branded pack, not about Asda own-brand tuna.
Joybuy tuna option
This no-drain tuna in sunflower oil is an option for a desk lunch where draining would be inconvenient. Check its MSC claim on the exact pack before choosing it for certified sourcing.
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John West No Drain Tuna Chunks in Sunflower Oil, 3 x 100g
The no-drain format avoids a draining step when assembling lunch at your desk. This is a 3 x 100g multipack in sunflower oil, not spring water. Joybuy’s listing describes the tuna as coming from an MSC-certified fishery; check the ecolabel on the exact pack. It contains fish, and the listing says to refrigerate after opening and consume within 2 days.
Questions about choosing tinned tuna
How can I check whether a tuna pack is MSC-certified?
Look for the MSC ecolabel on the exact pack or product information explicitly stating that its tuna comes from an MSC-certified fishery. A retailer sourcing policy or a claim on another variant does not establish certification for the pack you are buying.
When does no-drain tuna make sense for a desk lunch?
Choose a pack explicitly described as no-drain or ready to eat without draining if you will add tuna to lunch at your desk. The named John West no-drain pack and Sainsbury’s 80g ready-to-eat can offer that format; plain cans are another option when you prepare and portion lunch beforehand.
What should I check on a flavoured tuna can?
Read the ingredients, allergen declaration, pack size and nutrition information for the exact flavour. The named Sainsbury’s Dill & Pickle can contains fish and mustard seed, so it is not interchangeable with plain tuna for someone checking those ingredients.
What should I do with tuna left after opening a can?
Follow the storage and use-by instructions on your pack. The named John West listing on Joybuy says to refrigerate after opening and consume within 2 days; check the instructions again if you choose a different product.