Quick-lunch planners
If your break is short, a cupboard tin can provide the tuna for a sandwich, salad, pasta dish or jacket potato. Think about whether you will finish the tin at lunch or need to store some for another meal.
Who is stocking tuna for lunch?
Nutrition-label comparers
Compare the protein, salt and other values on the exact product label, paying attention to whether the figures refer to drained tuna. The packing medium and recipe can differ between tins.
Sourcing-conscious shoppers
If catch method, traceability or certification affects your choice, look for the claim on the particular tin or listing. A claim shown for one product should not be assumed to cover everything under the same brand.
What matters when choosing a tin?
| Concern | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Quick, adaptable lunches | Consider chunks or a clearly labelled no-drain format for the meals you make; check the opening and draining instructions. | If lunch needs to fit between calls, I want tuna I can put into several familiar dishes without much preparation. About 33% of consumers put that quick, adaptable use first. |
| Nutrition and packing medium | Compare the ingredients and nutrition panels on the same basis, preferably per 100g drained. | When tuna is the main part of my lunch, I want to compare the labelled protein, salt and added oil before choosing a tin. For about 27% of consumers, those label differences are the primary concern. |
| Portions and leftovers | Look at drained weight as well as can size, and check the exact instructions for refrigerating opened tuna. | If one tin is more than I use at lunch, I need a portion I can finish or a plan for the remainder. Portion size and leftover handling come first for about 20% of consumers. |
| Catch and sourcing information | Check the individual tin or listing for its stated catch method, traceability or Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification. | When deciding what to keep in the cupboard, I want the sourcing information to apply to the tuna I am buying. About 20% of consumers make that their main consideration. |
Common buying mistakes
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Comparing only the weight on the front of the tin
Can weight includes the packing liquid. Tesco Groceries lists its spring-water multipack as 4 × 145g, with 4 × 102g drained weight.
Check the drained weight when deciding how much tuna a tin will provide for your usual lunch.
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Assuming the packing medium tells you every nutrition value
Princes Food and Drinks lists 180kcal and 9.5g fat per 100g for its cited sunflower-oil tuna; Tesco Groceries lists 99kcal and 0.5g fat per 100g for the cited Princes spring-water tuna. These figures describe those products, not every tuna packed in oil or water.
Read the exact ingredients and nutrition panels, using comparable per-100g figures.
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Leaving unused tuna in an opened can
Opened-tin instructions differ by product. The cited retailer listings direct shoppers to transfer leftovers to a non-metallic container, refrigerate them and use them within one or two days, depending on the tin.
Follow your product’s label; if you rarely finish a tin at lunch, consider a smaller portion or plan the next meal.
A portion that cannot be used within its labelled storage period may go to waste.
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Applying one sourcing claim to a whole brand
Certification and catch-method statements in the cited listings refer to particular products or stated brand policies; they do not establish the details of every variant.
Check the exact tin for the claim that matters to you, whether that is MSC certification, a stated fishing method or traceability information.
Brands to consider
John West
The cited John West spring-water chunks come in a 4 × 125g multipack with an ECOTWIST® SmartStrip® opening format, according to Sainsbury's.
- That listed pack gives 102g drained weight per tin, making the drained amount worth checking alongside the can size.
- The cited product contains fish and may contain bones; check the exact tin’s ingredients and storage instructions.
Princes
Princes lists tuna in spring water and sunflower oil, among other canned formats.
- The cited spring-water and sunflower-oil products offer different labelled fat and energy values, so the packing medium gives you a useful choice to examine.
- Princes describes its canned-tuna fishing methods and traceability in its own materials; check the details relevant to the particular product.
Tesco
Tesco Groceries lists own-label spring-water tuna chunks in multipack form.
- Its cited 4 × 145g skipjack multipack lists 4 × 102g drained weight and MSC certification for that product.
- The same label lists 0.90g salt per 100g drained; compare the exact tin if salt is a deciding label value for you.
Sainsbury's
Sainsbury's lists an own-label 145g tin of skipjack tuna chunks in spring water.
- Sainsbury's describes the cited product as pole-and-line caught and from an MSC-certified fishery.
- Those sourcing details belong to the cited tin; check the label when choosing another Sainsbury's tuna format.
Asda
Asda Groceries lists own-label skipjack tuna chunks in spring water, including a 4 × 145g multipack.
- The cited multipack listing states MSC certification for that product.
- Check the drained amount and label on the pack you select rather than assuming its can weight is all tuna.
M&S
M&S lists spring-water tuna chunks as well as tuna-steak formats.
- Marks & Spencer describes its cited 160g spring-water chunks as pole-and-line caught under its Forever Fish policy.
- The cited product lists 0.75g salt per 100g; check the exact label when comparing it with another tin.
Tinned tuna selections on Joybuy
These tins cover spring-water chunks, sunflower-oil tuna with a no-drain format, and a brine-packed multipack. Choose between them by the packing medium and pack size that fit your lunches, then check the individual label for drained yield and opened-tin instructions.
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John West No Drain Tuna Chunks in Sunflower Oil, 3 × 100g
Consider this three-tin pack when avoiding a draining step matters during a short lunch break and you want tuna packed in sunflower oil. Check the exact nutrition label before comparing it with drained-tuna figures from other tins. The listing warns that some bones may remain.
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Morrisons Fad Free Tuna Chunks in Spring Water, 6 × 145g
The six-tin pack suits someone keeping spring-water tuna on hand for recurring lunches. Compare its drained amount per tin with the portion you normally use, and follow the opened-tin storage instructions if any remains.
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John West Tuna Chunks in Spring Water, 4 × 125g
This four-tin pack is an option for keeping spring-water chunks ready for sandwiches, salads or pasta. If skipping the draining step is important, check this tin’s instructions: the listing’s wording does not clearly establish its no-drain format.
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Morrisons Fad Free Tuna Chunks in Spring Water, 145g
A single tin may fit your cupboard routine if a multipack is unnecessary. Its 145g can weight is not a drained-tuna quantity; check the label against your usual lunch portion and refrigerate any leftovers as instructed.
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Princes Tuna Chunks in Brine, 4 × 145g
This four-tin pack offers brine-packed tuna for repeat lunches if that packing medium suits your recipes. Check the drained weight and nutrition label when comparing it with spring-water or oil-packed tins. The listing notes that small fish bones may occasionally be present.
Questions about tinned tuna
Should I choose tuna in spring water or oil for lunch?
Choose spring water if you want tuna without added oil; choose oil-packed tuna if its flavour and texture suit the dish. Compare the exact labels: Princes Food and Drinks lists 180kcal and 9.5g fat per 100g for its cited sunflower-oil product, while Tesco Groceries lists 99kcal and 0.5g fat per 100g for the cited Princes spring-water product.
How should I store tuna left over from an opened tin?
Follow the instructions on your tin. The cited retailer listings direct shoppers to move unused tuna into a covered, non-metallic container, refrigerate it and use it within one or two days, depending on the product.
Does a 145g tin provide 145g of tuna?
Not necessarily: the stated can weight includes its liquid. For example, Tesco Groceries lists its 4 × 145g spring-water multipack at 4 × 102g drained, so check the drained weight when planning portions.
Can canned tuna count as oily fish?
No. The NHS states that fresh and canned tuna do not count as oily fish.
Does an MSC or catch-method claim apply to every tin from a brand?
Do not assume so. Tesco Groceries, Sainsbury's and Asda Groceries state MSC certification for particular cited products, while Sainsbury's and Marks & Spencer describe pole-and-line catch for specified tins. Check the claim on the product you intend to buy.