Households stocking up for repeat meals
If tuna regularly goes into sandwiches, jacket potatoes, salads or pasta, compare the amount of drained tuna as well as the number of cans. A multipack is useful only if its portions suit how often you use it.
Who is this for?
Smaller households seeking simpler portions
If opening and draining a can adds an awkward step, a no-drain format may be worth considering. Check the portion size too, so an opened can does not leave more tuna than you plan to use.
Shoppers who check sourcing and labels
If an MSC ecolabel or a stated catch method guides your choice, look at the exact pack. Its packing medium, salt declaration and portion size remain separate considerations.
What matters when choosing?
For a retirement household, decide which need will determine the purchase: usable quantity, label and meal planning, easier handling, or stated sourcing.
| Concern | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Usable quantity | Compare drained weight, can count and the amount you are likely to use. | For regular cupboard meals, I want to know how much tuna is left after draining, not just the weight printed prominently on the pack. About 42% of consumers put usable quantity first. |
| Labels and meal planning | Read the salt declaration and packing medium; distinguish tuna from oily fish when planning other fish purchases. | If tuna appears often in my meals, I want to compare labels and know how it fits alongside other fish. For about 25% of consumers, that is the primary concern. |
| Handling and portions | Check whether the pack is no-drain, its can size and its instructions for unused contents. | When draining a can is inconvenient or I need only a small portion, simpler handling matters more to me than a larger pack. Roughly 17% of consumers put this need first. |
| Stated sourcing | Look for an MSC ecolabel or a catch-method statement on the exact product. | I want the sourcing claim to apply to the tuna I actually take home, rather than to a brand in general. That is the leading need for about 16% of consumers. |
What is easy to overlook?
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Judging the contents by total can weight
Total weight includes the packing liquid, so cans of similar size need not provide the same amount of tuna.
Compare drained weights and choose a can or multipack size that suits the meals you make.
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Counting tuna as oily fish
The NHS says fresh and canned tuna do not count as oily fish. That distinction matters if you use fish purchases to plan a varied weekly menu.
Keep tuna and oily-fish choices separate when making your shopping list.
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Applying one sourcing claim to every pack
An MSC ecolabel or catch-method statement may apply to a particular product or range, not everything sold under the same name.
Check the wording and symbols on the exact pack you choose.
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Overlooking instructions for leftovers
Marks & Spencer instructs shoppers to transfer unused contents of its Tuna Chunks in Spring Water to a non-metallic container, refrigerate them and eat them within two days.
Choose a manageable portion and follow the opened-can instructions on your own product.
Opening more than you can use may leave tuna that must be stored separately or discarded.
Brands to consider
Tesco
Tesco own-label and value-range chunks give shoppers standard canned formats to compare with branded and no-drain options.
- A Tesco Groceries listing showed value-range and own-label chunks alongside branded alternatives, with drained-weight unit information.
- Compare the packs and shelf labels available on the day you shop.
John West
John West no-drain chunks are relevant when avoiding the draining step is a priority.
- The Tesco Groceries listing included a John West no-drain multipack with an MSC label in its product name.
- Check the medium, portion size and sourcing label on the particular John West pack.
Princes
Princes appeared in the Tesco Groceries listing in chunks, sandwich-tuna and steak formats.
- Those formats let shoppers choose between pieces of tuna intended for different meals.
- Princes explains the MSC fishery-audit system, but that does not establish certification for every Princes pack; check the product label.
Sainsbury's
Sainsbury's own-label canned tuna is relevant to shoppers checking certification and catch-method claims.
- In May 2023, Sainsbury's stated that its own-label canned tuna was MSC certified and pole-and-line caught.
- That statement is dated and range-specific; check the exact current pack.
M&S
M&S Tuna Chunks in Spring Water provides product-level sourcing, nutrition and storage information to check when choosing a can.
- Marks & Spencer describes this product as pole-and-line caught and gives instructions for storing unused contents.
- Read the physical label for the details that apply to the pack you buy.
Tinned tuna on Joybuy
These packs cover no-drain chunks and standard chunks in spring water or brine for repeat meals. Compare their portion formats and drained weights against what your household will use.
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John West No Drain Tuna Chunks in Sunflower Oil, 3 x 100g
Consider this pack if avoiding the draining step matters for regular meals. It contains three 100g cans of tuna chunks in sunflower oil.
Check the exact pack for its salt declaration, sourcing claim and drained weight.
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John West No Drain Tuna Chunks in Springwater, 3 x 100g
This is a no-drain option for someone who prefers tuna packed in spring water. The listed pack contains three 100g cans.
Check the exact pack’s salt declaration and drained weight when comparing portions.
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Morrisons Fad Free Tuna Chunks in Spring Water, 145g (6 packs)
Consider this spring-water multipack for meals that use tuna repeatedly. The title lists six packs and 145g; check the packaging to see how that weight applies to the cans.
Check the drained weight and salt declaration on the exact pack.
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John West Tuna Chunks in Springwater, 4 x 125g
The four-can format may suit a household planning several tuna meals. Each listed can is 125g, with chunks packed in spring water.
Compare the drained weight and read the salt declaration on the pack.
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Morrisons Fad Free Tuna Chunks in Brine, 145g
This single 145g can suits a meal plan that does not call for a multipack. It contains tuna chunks in brine.
Check its drained weight, salt declaration and instructions for any unused contents. The product description warns that some bones may remain.
Questions about tinned tuna
Does tinned tuna count as oily fish?
No. The NHS says fresh and canned tuna do not count as oily fish, so keep that distinction in mind when planning which fish to buy.
Should I choose tuna in spring water, brine or oil?
Choose the medium that suits the meal, then compare the exact products’ ingredient and nutrition labels. The NHS notes that canned fish can be high in salt, so check the salt declaration rather than assuming it will be the same across packs.
How should I store tuna left after opening a can?
Follow the instructions on that can. For its Tuna Chunks in Spring Water, Marks & Spencer says to transfer unused contents to a non-metallic container, refrigerate them and eat them within two days; instructions on other products may differ.
Which label details should I check before buying?
Check the drained weight, packing medium, ingredients, allergen declaration and storage instructions on the exact pack. If sourcing matters to you, also check whether that product carries the MSC ecolabel or a specific catch-method statement.