Low-sugar dinner planners
You want to check the sugar in the tuna before deciding how to flavour a shared meal. Tesco Groceries lists 0.0g sugars per 100g for Princes spring-water chunks, as does Marks & Spencer for its own spring-water chunks.
Who is choosing?
Quick-but-polished hosts
You want a cupboard ingredient for a salad, pasta or starter, but care about how the tuna looks when served. Marks & Spencer lists both chunks and fillets; consider whether loose pieces or more intact pieces suit the plating you have in mind.
Ingredient-conscious fish buyers
You compare the preserve, nutrition panel, sourcing claims and storage instructions on the particular tin, rather than assuming that every product from a brand is alike.
What matters when buying?
Start with the nutrition panel if sugar is your concern, then decide whether the tuna will be mixed into the dish or served as visible pieces.
| Concern | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar in the tuna | Read sugars per 100g and the ingredients on the exact tin, particularly for flavoured products. | If I am keeping the main ingredient low in sugar, I want to know what is in the tuna before adding a dressing. About 36% of consumers put that sugar check first. |
| Texture and presentation | Choose between chunks, steaks and fillets, and check whether they are packed in water or oil. | For a sharing plate where the fish stays visible, I would rather select the cut deliberately than break up larger pieces later. Presentation is the primary concern for about 29% of consumers. |
| Speed and tidy preparation | Check for a no-drain format and use drained weight, where given, to plan the amount needed. | When dinner needs assembling quickly, I want to limit draining and still have enough tuna for the dish. Roughly 21% of consumers prioritise that ease of preparation. |
| Product-specific label details | Read the fish allergen declaration, sourcing claim and instructions for storing leftovers. | If a sourcing claim or leftover storage matters to my choice, I need it to apply to this tin, not just the brand. For about 14% of consumers, those label details come first. |
What should you watch for?
-
Assuming reduced sugar identifies a special type of plain tuna
Tesco Groceries lists 0.0g sugars per 100g for Princes spring-water chunks, and Marks & Spencer gives the same figure for its spring-water chunks. The other ingredients in your dinner still matter to its overall sugar content.
Check the exact tin’s nutrition panel and ingredients, then check any flavoured dressing or accompaniment you plan to use.
-
Choosing oil-packed tuna without comparing the nutrition panels
Marks & Spencer lists 17.3g fat per 100g for its Ventresca fillets in olive oil, compared with 0.6g per 100g for its spring-water chunks. Those figures describe these products, not every oil-packed or spring-water tin.
Choose the preserve for the dish, and compare the fat figures on the products you are considering.
-
Planning portions from the can’s net weight alone
For tuna packed in liquid, the net weight and the amount of fish after draining are different measures. This matters when the tuna is the main part of a dinner for two.
Use the stated drained weight to plan portions where the pack provides it.
-
Overlooking pregnancy-related tuna guidance
For people who are pregnant or trying for a baby, the NHS advises no more than four cans of tuna or two tuna steaks a week because of mercury. The Food Standards Agency says that guidance uses a medium can containing around 140g drained tuna or a 140g cooked steak.
Consider tuna eaten across the week, not just in this meal, when applying that guidance.
Brands to consider
Princes
A range that includes spring-water chunks alongside other preserves and cuts listed by Tesco Groceries.
- Tesco Groceries lists 0.0g sugars per 100g for Princes Tuna Chunks in Spring Water.
- For a dish where intact pieces matter, check whether chunks give you the presentation you want.
M&S
Marks & Spencer lists both spring-water chunks and Ventresca fillets in olive oil.
- Its product pages list 0.0g sugars per 100g for the spring-water chunks and less than 0.1g per 100g for the Ventresca fillets.
- The listed fillets contain 17.3g fat per 100g, compared with 0.6g per 100g for the listed spring-water chunks.
John West
Tesco Groceries lists John West No Drain tuna in several preserves.
- A no-drain pack is worth considering when you want fewer preparation steps.
- Check the sugar, salt and pack size of the particular format you choose.
Tesco
Tesco Groceries lists own-label tuna chunks and steaks in different preserves.
- The listed cuts and preserves give you options to compare for a dressed dish or visible pieces.
- Read the nutrition panel on the exact product rather than applying another spring-water tuna’s figures to it.
Joybuy tuna selections
These selections include tuna steaks in olive oil, no-drain chunks and conventional chunks in water or oil. Choose by the role the tuna will play in your dinner, and check the current pack label for nutrition and portions.
No image available
Fish4ever Tuna Steaks in Organic Olive Oil 160g
Consider the steak format when you want the tuna to remain visible in a salad or sharing dish. This 160g product is packed in organic olive oil; check its nutrition panel if the preserve affects your choice.
No image available
John West No Drain Tuna Chunks in Springwater 3 x 100g
The no-drain format suits a dinner assembled with fewer draining steps. These are chunks in springwater, supplied as three 100g cans; use dressing and plating to give loose pieces the finish you want.
No image available
John West No Drain Tuna Chunks in Sunflower Oil 3 x 100g
For quick assembly with an oil preserve, this no-drain pack contains chunks rather than intact steaks. It comprises three 100g cans; compare its nutrition panel with a springwater option if the preserve matters to you.
No image available
Morrisons Fad Free Tuna Chunks in Spring Water 145g, 6-pack
Spring-water chunks suit a dish in which you add the dressing or sauce yourself. This pack contains six 145g cans; check the drained weight per can when planning how much fish to serve.
No image available
John West Tuna Chunks in Sunflower Oil 4 x 125g
Choose these chunks if sunflower-oil tuna suits the salad or pasta you plan to make. The pack contains four 125g cans; check drained weight for portions and compare the nutrition panel with other preserves.
Questions about tinned tuna
Is reduced sugar a useful way to choose plain tinned tuna?
Check it, but do not rely on the phrase alone. Tesco Groceries and Marks & Spencer respectively list 0.0g sugars per 100g for Princes and M&S spring-water chunks, while Marks & Spencer lists less than 0.1g per 100g for its Ventresca fillets. Read the label of a flavoured tin and consider any dressing or accompaniment separately.
Should I choose tuna in spring water or oil for a date-night dish?
Choose spring-water chunks if the recipe supplies the dressing and you are comfortable serving loose pieces; consider oil-packed fillets if you want more intact pieces on display. Compare the exact products’ labels: Marks & Spencer lists 0.6g fat per 100g for its spring-water chunks and 17.3g per 100g for its Ventresca fillets in olive oil.
How should I store leftover tinned tuna?
Follow the instructions on the tin you open. The Princes and M&S spring-water product information says to transfer unused contents to a suitable container, refrigerate them and use them within two days; M&S specifies a non-metallic container for its product.
Can someone who is pregnant have tinned tuna?
Yes, within the NHS guidance for people who are pregnant or trying for a baby: no more than four cans of tuna or two tuna steaks a week because of mercury. The Food Standards Agency explains that this guidance is based on a medium can with around 140g drained tuna or a 140g cooked steak, so consider tuna eaten throughout the week.