Fat-first label comparers
If total fat and saturates drive your choice, compare figures on the same per-100g drained basis. The Sainsbury's, Princes, John West and Asda listings show that spring-water products can have different values.
Who is choosing a multipack?
Multipack stock planners
If tuna is a regular cupboard item, compare the number of cans, their sizes and the stated drained weight. A four-can pack and a larger can format need not supply the same usable quantity.
Portion-conscious households
If you rarely finish a can at once, choose a size that fits your usual portions. The researched Sainsbury's and Asda listings give different periods for using refrigerated leftovers, so follow the instruction on the pack you buy.
What matters when choosing?
Start with the nutrition basis on the exact pack, then check whether its can size and opened-storage instructions fit how often you use tuna.
| Concern | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Total fat and saturates | Compare both figures per 100g drained on the exact pack. NHS food-label guidance defines low total fat as 3g or less per 100g. | If I am choosing tuna chiefly for its fat figures, I want to compare like-for-like labels rather than rely on the packing liquid. About 40% of consumers would put total fat and saturates first. |
| Usable quantity | Check the can count, can size and stated drained weight before choosing how much to stock. | When I use tuna regularly, I need a pack size that matches how much I can use. For about 30% of consumers, usable quantity would be the primary concern. |
| Salt | Read salt per 100g drained alongside the fat figures. Sainsbury's lists 0.12g and Asda 0.90g for their researched four-can packs. | If salt is my main concern after choosing a spring-water pack, I do not want its fat figure to distract me from the salt line. About 20% of consumers would prioritise salt. |
| Leftovers and can size | Match each can to your usual portion and follow its specific refrigeration and use-by-opening instructions. | If I often leave part of a can unused, I need a size and storage period that fit my meals. Managing leftovers would come first for about 10% of consumers. |
Checks that are easy to miss
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Assuming all spring-water tuna has the same nutrition figures
Sainsbury's lists less than 0.5g fat and 0.12g salt per 100g drained for its researched pack; Asda lists 1.0g fat and 0.90g salt on the same basis.
Compare total fat, saturates and salt on the label of the exact pack you intend to use.
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Opening a can without planning for the remainder
The researched product instructions specify refrigeration after opening, but the period for using leftovers differs by product.
Choose a can size that suits your portions, and follow its instructions for transferring, refrigerating and using unused tuna.
A can that is too large for your routine can leave tuna unused beyond its stated opened-storage period.
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Overlooking fish allergens or pregnancy guidance
Tuna contains fish. For pregnancy, NHS guidance says not to eat more than four cans of tuna or two tuna steaks a week because tuna can contain pollutants including mercury.
Check the current allergen label. If pregnant, account for the NHS pregnancy-specific tuna limit when planning how many cans you will use.
Relevant brands for reference
John West
Its researched spring-water range includes four-can formats. The Asda listing for John West 4 x 132g states 0.7g fat per 100g drained.
- The researched four-can listing gives a two-day period for using refrigerated leftovers.
- The 4 x 132g pack is distinct from the 4 x 125g John West pack listed below; check the exact variant before comparing labels.
Princes
The researched Princes spring-water multipack contains four 145g cans.
- Asda Groceries lists 0.5g fat and 0.1g saturates per 100g drained for that pack.
- The same listing gives 0.85g salt per 100g drained, so check salt as well as fat.
Tesco
Tesco lists spring-water tuna in several sizes, including a 4 x 145g pack and a separate 4 x 160g pack.
- The formats offer different can sizes to compare with your usual portions.
- Tesco's nutrition figures for the 4 x 160g product must not be assumed to describe the 4 x 145g pack; read the label on the variant you choose.
Sainsbury's
Its researched 4 x 145g spring-water pack lists less than 0.5g fat and 0.12g salt per 100g drained.
- The published drained-weight figures allow a direct label comparison with other packs using the same basis.
- Its listing instructs shoppers to refrigerate leftovers and use them within one day.
Asda
The researched Asda spring-water multipack contains four 145g cans and lists 1.0g fat per 100g drained.
- Its listing gives a two-day period for using refrigerated leftovers.
- The same pack lists 0.90g salt per 100g drained; compare this separately from its fat figure.
M&S
The researched M&S spring-water product is a single 160g can, rather than a multipack.
- Marks & Spencer lists 0.6g fat per 100g for that can.
- A single-can listing cannot establish the configuration of an M&S bulk pack. Its listing also says some bones may remain.
Joybuy spring-water tuna multipacks
These spring-water tuna packs offer six-can, four-can and smaller no-drain formats. Compare the exact pack label and can size against the needs above.
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Morrisons Fad Free Tuna Chunks in Spring Water, 6 x 145g
The six-can format may suit a household that uses tuna regularly. Check the current label for fat, saturates and salt on a comparable basis, as well as its instructions for opened cans.
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John West Tuna Chunks in Springwater, 4 x 125g
This four-can format suits shoppers who prefer smaller individual cans than the six-pack shown here. Joybuy lists 0.7g fat per 100g drained for this 4 x 125g product; do not substitute figures from the separate 4 x 132g variant when comparing labels.
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John West No Drain Tuna Chunks in Springwater, 3 x 100g
This three-can no-drain format is an option if smaller cans fit your portions. Before comparing its per-100g nutrition with another pack's drained-weight figures, check which basis its label uses.
Common questions
Does spring-water tuna always have the same fat content?
No. The researched Sainsbury's and Asda spring-water packs list less than 0.5g and 1.0g fat per 100g drained respectively. Compare the exact pack's fat, saturates and salt figures on the same nutrition basis.
What should I do with tuna left after opening a can?
Follow the storage instruction on that product's label. The researched listings say to transfer leftovers to a non-metallic container and refrigerate them; Sainsbury's specifies use within one day, while the researched Asda, Princes, M&S and John West listings specify two days.
How much tinned tuna does NHS pregnancy guidance allow?
NHS pregnancy guidance says not to eat more than four cans of tuna or two tuna steaks a week because tuna can contain pollutants including mercury. This is pregnancy-specific guidance, so consider it when planning how many cans to use.
Is tinned tuna suitable for someone with a fish allergy?
No: tuna is fish, and the researched products declare fish as an allergen. Check the current pack's full allergen information, including any relevant cross-contact statement.