People planning their Christmas meals in advance
If you’re planning several meals or catering for unexpected guests, compare the drained net weight, tin sizes and dates on the tins, rather than simply counting them.
Who are these choices for?
People choosing tuna to suit a recipe
Whole tuna pieces can stay visible in a salad or filling. If you want the oil to be part of the finished dish, look for a product packed in oil instead.
People who pay attention to ingredients and fishing practices
Check the ingredients list, salt content and fishing information for each product: these can vary even within the same type of tuna.
What should you look for first?
Start with the meals you’re preparing and the quantities you’ll need, then compare the tins by their ingredients and any fishing information that matters to you.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Quantity for your meals | Drained net weight in g and tin sizes; the date shown on each tin. | For several festive meals, I want to make sure I have enough usable tuna without relying on the total weight alone. Around 29% of consumers put quantity first. |
| How it works in your recipe | Whole tuna or another presentation; packed in water or oil. | If I want the pieces to remain visible in a starter, I won’t choose the same type as I would for a recipe where I want to use the oil. The finished dish comes first for around 29% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and salt | Ingredients list and salt content per 100 g for the product you’ve chosen. | I prefer to compare the exact recipes before choosing a tin packed in water: they may contain different ingredients. Ingredients are the top priority for around 21% of consumers. |
| Fishing information | Species listed and whether the specific tin carries the MSC label; don’t confuse it with a FIP. | If I’m looking for a certification, I want to be able to identify it on the product I’m buying, rather than infer it from a fishery’s commitment. Around 21% of consumers put this first. |
What mistakes should you avoid?
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Comparing only the total weight
Some of the contents may be the liquid the tuna is packed in. The DGCCRF states that the drained net weight must be shown when food is sold in a liquid like this.
To work out how much tuna you’ll have for your recipes, compare the tins’ drained net weights.
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Confusing an improvement programme with MSC certification
Petit Navire mentions a fishery improvement project, or FIP, for one of its products, while Saupiquet and Sol&Mar label some products as MSC certified. These terms don’t mean the same thing.
If MSC certification is important to your choice, look for the label on the packaging of the product you buy.
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Assuming all tuna packed ‘in water’ has the same recipe
The Petit Navire tuna in water featured by the brand contains 0.5 g of salt per 100 g. Saupiquet’s MSC-certified whole tuna in water contains 1 g of salt per 100 g and includes a natural flavouring.
Read the ingredients list and nutritional information on the specific tin you’re thinking of buying.
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Putting an opened tin back in the cupboard
Storage instructions change once a tin has been opened. For the Saupiquet MSC-certified whole tuna in water featured by Auchan, the instructions say to store it at between 0 and 4 °C and eat it within 48 hours.
Refrigerate leftovers in a suitable food container and follow the instructions on your own tin.
Brands to know when comparing products
Petit Navire
The brand offers, among other products, whole tuna in water with a short ingredients list.
- According to Petit Navire, its ‘Thon Entier au Naturel -25 % de Sel Démarche Responsable’ product contains tuna, water and salt, with 0.5 g of salt per 100 g.
- The statement that the fishery is involved in a FIP does not mean this product is MSC certified.
Saupiquet
Saupiquet offers MSC-certified whole tuna in water in several sizes, designed to be used without draining.
- The brand’s website lists sizes of 93 g, 112 g and 140 g for this product.
- Its ingredients include a natural flavouring, and its nutritional information states 1 g of salt per 100 g. Check that the recipe meets your requirements.
Carrefour Classic’
This own-brand product is worth considering if you need whole albacore tuna in water, with pieces that stay visible in your recipes.
- Carrefour lists a 140 g tin with a drained net weight of 140 g, containing albacore tuna, water and salt.
- If you’re preparing several meals, compare this drained weight with the other sizes you’re considering, rather than just looking at the weight of the tins.
Pêche Océan
This range, sold by E.Leclerc, includes a small tin of MSC-certified albacore tuna in water.
- E.Leclerc lists a drained net weight of 93 g, with albacore tuna, water and salt in this product.
- The product information lists several possible fishing areas, depending on supply. Check the tin for details of the product you buy.
Sol&Mar
Lidl France sells skipjack tuna in sunflower oil under this brand, with MSC certification.
- This product could work well if sunflower oil suits your recipe, such as a salad or pasta dish.
- When choosing between this product and tuna in water, consider which packing liquid you want in your dish.
Canned tuna available on Joybuy
These tins include options packed in water and one packed in sunflower oil. For your Christmas meals, compare the type of tuna and the drained weight shown on the packaging before deciding how much to buy.
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Petit Navire, tuna in water, 140 g
A good option for a tuna salad or sandwich. The stated pack size is 140 g; check the drained net weight on the tin to work out how much usable tuna you’ll have.
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Petit Navire, MSC-certified tuna in water, 160 g, including 112 g drained tuna
For a recipe calling for tuna in water, the product title distinguishes the total weight of 160 g from the drained weight of 112 g. If the MSC label is important to you, check it on the packaging of the product you receive.
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Saupiquet, whole tuna in water, 93 g
This smaller size may suit a recipe that needs only a little whole tuna. The stated pack size is 93 g; check the drained net weight on the packaging to work out how many portions it will make.
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Petit Navire, whole tuna in sunflower oil, 160 g
Consider this product if sunflower oil suits the dish you’re preparing. The stated pack size is 160 g; to work out how much tuna you’ll have, check the drained net weight on the tin.
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Petit Navire, MSC-certified white tuna in water, 112 g
This white tuna in water could work well in a salad or pasta dish. Check the drained net weight to plan your portions, and look for the MSC label on the packaging if it matters to you.
Frequently asked questions
Which weight should I compare when planning tuna for a Christmas meal?
If the tuna is packed in liquid, compare the drained net weight: this shows how much tuna is left after draining. The DGCCRF states that this information must appear on the label in this case. Check it before working out how many tins you’ll need for your recipes.
Do the DDM and DLC mean the same thing?
No. The date of minimum durability, or DDM, does not mean the same thing as the use-by date, or DLC. The French Ministry of the Economy distinguishes the DLC, a strict deadline for highly perishable foods, from the DDM. Check which date is actually printed on each tin and follow its storage instructions.
How should I store Saupiquet tuna after opening?
For the Saupiquet MSC-certified whole tuna in water featured by Auchan, keep the product in the fridge at between 0 and 4 °C and eat it within 48 hours. Transfer any leftovers to a suitable food container and check the instructions on your tin, as they may vary by product.