People who prepare meals in advance
If you’re dividing tuna between several meals, check the drained weight and the protein content for the portion you’ll eat, rather than relying on the weight shown on the front of the tin.
Who are these formats for?
Households stocking up
A multipack of small tins can save you from opening a large tin every time you prepare a meal. Compare the total drained weight and choose portions that suit how often you use it.
People keeping an eye on salt and meal variety
Compare the salt content of each recipe and plan to eat other types of fish too. Anses recommends varying both the species you eat and where they come from.
What should you compare before buying?
When choosing between a multipack, a large tin and a single portion, start with how much you’ll use once the tin is open. Then compare the nutritional information and drained weight of each product.
| What matters | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Portion size and protein | Protein per 100 g and drained net weight; fat content of the chosen recipe. | When I’m preparing several meals, I want to know how much tuna will go into each one. Around 40% of consumers would prioritise having a portion size they can measure. |
| Stocking-up format | Total drained weight of the multipack and tin sizes in relation to the portions you use. | If I eat tuna regularly, I prefer tins I can finish without leaving any behind. This convenient format would be the main priority for around 30% of consumers. |
| Salt and regular use | Salt per 100 g, storage instructions after opening and how tuna fits into the fish you eat. | When tuna features regularly in my meals, I want to choose a recipe with all the facts and vary the types of fish I eat. Around 30% of consumers would put these precautions first. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Counting tins without checking their drained weight
Two packs with the same net weight can contain different amounts of tuna. For example, the Joybuy listing for a 140 g Petit Navire tin gives a drained weight of 98 g.
For a multipack, add together the drained weights shown for each tin before comparing quantities.
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Assuming all tuna recipes are the same
You can’t compare tuna in spring water with tuna in oil based on the fish’s name alone: their ingredients and nutritional values may differ.
Compare the protein, fat, energy and salt per 100 g on the labels of the specific products you’re considering.
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Choosing a large tin without planning for leftovers
Once opened, a tin can no longer be stored like an unopened one. Storage times after opening vary by product.
Plan the portions you’ll serve, put any leftovers in a suitable food container in the fridge and follow the label instructions.
Any portion left unused beyond the stated time may need to be thrown away.
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Making tuna the only fish in your cupboard
Anses recommends varying the species you eat and where they come from. Eating the same type of fish repeatedly doesn’t meet this recommendation for variety.
Include tuna alongside other meal options rather than relying on it as your only fish.
Brands to know when comparing products
Saupiquet
Saupiquet offers tuna in spring water in single tins and multipacks.
- Auchan’s listings for two products give protein values of 22 and 23 g per 100 g respectively.
- Compare drained weight and salt content product by product, rather than assuming they’re the same across the brand.
Petit Navire
Petit Navire is among the brands offering tuna in spring water in single tins and small multipacks.
- The Joybuy listing for a 140 g tin of tuna in spring water gives a drained weight of 98 g, which is useful when comparing portions.
- The values for one tin don’t automatically apply to the brand’s other recipes.
Carrefour Classic'
Carrefour offers multipacks of solid tuna in spring water, including 2 × 140 g and 3 × 140 g formats.
- The separate tins let you choose how much to stock without opening the whole multipack.
- Check the drained weight and nutritional values of the specific product you’re considering before comparing it with another.
Pêche Océan / Marque Repère
E.Leclerc offers solid albacore tuna in spring water under this range, in single tins, multipacks and larger formats.
- The formats available include multipacks of 2 × 140 g and 3 × 93 g.
- Compare the nutritional information and drained weight of the specific pack you’re interested in.
Sol&Mar
Lidl has offered a large-format MSC-certified tin of skipjack tuna in sunflower oil, with a drained net weight of 750 g.
- This format lets you prepare several portions from one tin.
- It’s a tuna-in-oil recipe, so compare its fat content and plan how you’ll use the leftovers after opening.
Single tins available on Joybuy
These are single tins for preparing meals as and when you need them, rather than multipacks. If you’re stocking up, compare the portion size and drained weight of each product before deciding how many tins to buy.
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Petit Navire MSC tuna in spring water, 160 g
A single tin to consider if you want to know how much tuna you’ll have for your meal.
Net weight: 160 g; drained net weight: 112 g.
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Saupiquet solid tuna in spring water, 93 g
This small tin may suit you if you want to use the contents in a single meal.
Weight shown: 93 g. Check the drained net weight on the label to compare the amount of tuna with other tins.
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Petit Navire white tuna in brine, 140 g
Compare this single tin with other recipes if you choose your tuna based on its packing liquid.
Weight shown: 140 g. Check the drained net weight and salt content of this product before comparing it with tuna in spring water.
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Petit Navire MSC white tuna in spring water, 112 g
This single tin lets you plan a recipe using tuna in spring water without opening a larger tin.
Weight shown: 112 g. If you’re working out how much to use in each meal, check the drained net weight on the label.
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Petit Navire tuna in spring water, 140 g
The drained weight of this tin helps you plan how much tuna to use in a meal.
Net weight: 140 g; drained net weight: 98 g. To work out the protein in your portion, use the values and serving basis shown on the label of the product you buy.
Frequently asked questions
Is tuna in spring water suitable for preparing protein-rich meals?
Tuna in spring water can be part of these meals, but compare the values for the tin you’re buying rather than relying on the recipe name alone. Two Saupiquet listings published by Auchan give protein values of 22 and 23 g per 100 g, depending on the product. Also check the drained weight, fat and salt content.
Why check the drained weight of a multipack?
Drained weight shows how much product remains after the packing liquid is removed, making it easier to compare multipacks on a like-for-like basis. Add together the drained weight of all the tins. For example, a 140 g Petit Navire tin listed on Joybuy has a drained weight of 98 g.
What should you do with leftover tuna after opening?
Put any leftovers in a suitable food container in the fridge and follow the instructions for the product you’ve bought. The guidance found on the listings for the products concerned ranges from 24 to 48 hours after opening. Don’t assume the storage time for one tin applies to another.
Should you plan to eat tuna with every fish meal?
No. Anses recommends that the general population vary the species of fish they eat and where it comes from. A stock of tuna can be part of a varied selection rather than a replacement for other choices.