Wild-caught tinned tuna cannot be certified organic: wild-caught products are excluded from organic production, as explained by Agence Bio and the European Commission. If you’re serving tuna alongside oysters, choose according to the recipe and, if it matters to you, the fishing information for the specific product; organic oil or an MSC label does not mean the fish is organic. If the meal is for someone who is pregnant or breastfeeding, or for a child under 3, also take account of Anses recommendations on predatory fish.
If certification of the tuna itself is essential, check its origin first: according to Agence Bio, wild-caught fish cannot be certified organic. An organic claim that applies only to the oil or sauce won’t meet this requirement. Aquaculture is covered by a separate framework, which you’ll need to check for each product.
If you’re serving the tuna alongside an oyster platter, tuna in spring water lets you choose what to add when it’s time to serve. Petit Navire, for example, lists a tinned tuna made with tuna, water and salt. Always check the ingredients of the tin you choose.
If your meal includes someone who is pregnant or breastfeeding, or a child under 3, Anses’ specific recommendations on predatory fish are an important part of planning the menu. If you open a tin, follow the storage instructions for that specific product too.
For an oyster dinner, first establish whether organic certification applies to the fish, then choose your tin according to your priorities for fishing practices, recipe and storage. These criteria are not interchangeable.
| Criterion | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Organic certification of the tuna | Check whether the tuna is wild-caught or farmed, then see which product any organic claim applies to. According to Agence Bio and the European Commission, wild-caught fish cannot be certified organic. | If I want to buy fish that is itself certified organic, a claim that applies only to the oil won’t meet my needs. Around 36% of shoppers make this their top priority. |
| Fishing information | Check the species and fishing information for the specific product. MSC relates to fishing practices, not organic certification. | I want to be able to identify the fishing certification associated with the tin, even though that doesn’t make the tuna organic. Around 29% of shoppers prioritise this. |
| Recipe for the meal | Read the ingredients list and, if the tuna is packed in liquid, compare the drained net weight. | If I’m serving the tuna separately from the oysters, I’d rather season it myself than choose a recipe that’s already in a sauce. Around 21% of shoppers prioritise this. |
| Safety advice and storage | For those concerned, check Anses recommendations on predatory fish. Once opened, follow the storage instructions on the tin. | If the meal is for someone covered by this advice, or I plan to keep an opened tin, these instructions take priority over choosing a label. Around 14% of shoppers make this their top priority. |
Organic certification or a claim on one ingredient doesn’t necessarily mean the fish is certified organic. Agence Bio and the European Commission exclude wild-caught products from organic production.
If organic certification of the fish is your deciding factor, check the tuna’s origin and which product the claim applies to, rather than relying on the recipe name alone.
These claims relate to fishing criteria that are separate from organic certification. On their own, they also tell you nothing about the ingredients or nutritional values of the tin.
Choose the criterion that matters to you, then check the claim and label on the specific product you’re buying. Don’t assume it applies to the whole range.
A fishing label or tuna in spring water doesn’t replace advice on methylmercury. Anses has specific recommendations for people who are pregnant or breastfeeding and for children under 3.
If your meal is for anyone in these groups, check Anses recommendations when planning the menu.
Once opened, follow the storage temperature and time instructions given for the product. Saupiquet’s product information for its MSC tuna in spring water says to refrigerate it and eat it within two days.
Check the instructions on the tin you choose before deciding what to do with any leftovers.
These products illustrate differences in recipes and fishing information; their inclusion here does not mean their tinned tuna is certified organic.
The brand offers, among other products, 160 g tins of MSC albacore tuna in spring water.
The MSC tuna in spring water range includes a product made with skipjack tuna.
Carrefour France stocks, among other options, tins of albacore tuna in spring water and a product labelled “FAD-free”.
No. According to Agence Bio and the European Commission, wild-caught products are excluded from organic certification. If a tin carries an organic claim, check whether it applies to another ingredient. Any farmed origin should be checked separately on the product concerned.
First identify the ingredient or product covered by the claim, then check its labelling. The European Commission states that the EU organic logo is reserved for certified products covered by this framework; it cannot be used to describe wild-caught tuna.
No. MSC relates to fishing practices and is separate from organic certification. Petit Navire and Saupiquet use it for specific products; check the label on the tin you’re considering rather than assuming it applies to every tinned tuna product from the brand.
Follow the storage instructions on the product you’ve bought. For example, for its MSC tuna in spring water, Saupiquet says to refrigerate it and eat it within two days of opening.