Anyone making crêpes for one or two people
If you want to avoid leftovers, compare smaller tins and, above all, their drained weight. Two tins with a similar net weight won’t necessarily contain the same amount of tuna.
Who is this guide for?
Anyone looking for visible chunks
If you want the tuna to remain recognisable in the filling, check for the words ‘whole tuna’. You can then flake the chunks to your preferred size for your crêpes.
Anyone interested in ingredients and fishing practices
If these factors matter to you, read the ingredients list, check the species and look at the traceability or fishing information for the specific tin you choose.
Which criteria should you compare?
For a small batch, first estimate how much tuna you’ll need by checking the drained weight. Then decide whether you’d prefer visible chunks or a more finely flaked filling, and compare recipes that suit your choice.
| Criterion | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Usable quantity | Where shown, compare the drained net weight with the number of crêpes you want to fill. A 140 g net tin of Petit Navire lists a drained weight of 98 g. | I’m making just a few crêpes and want to avoid having a lot left over. Around 30% of consumers put this usable quantity first. |
| Texture | Check whether the tin says ‘whole’, ‘chunks’ or ‘flakes’, depending on how you plan to serve the tuna. | I want the chunks to be distinct in the crêpe rather than mixed completely into the filling. Texture would be the top priority for around 30% of consumers. |
| Ingredients | Read the ingredients and nutritional information, particularly the salt and fat per 100 g, for the products you’re comparing. | I prefer to decide for myself whether to add oil or other ingredients to my filling. Around 20% of consumers would put the ingredients first. |
| Fishing and traceability | Check the species and the exact wording of any certification, sourcing or origin claims on the product. | I want to know about the fishing practices associated with the tin I buy. This would be the top criterion for around 20% of consumers. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Confusing net weight with drained tuna weight
Net weight includes the liquid. A 140 g net tin of Petit Navire lists a drained weight of 98 g. That second figure is the one to use when working out how much filling you’ll have.
If the tin lists a drained net weight, use that figure to estimate how much tuna you’ll need for your crêpes.
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Assuming tuna in brine and tuna in oil are the same recipe
Ingredients and nutritional values vary from one product to another. Petit Navire’s product information lists 1 g of fat per 100 g for its MSC tuna in brine, compared with 10 g per 100 g for a sunflower oil variety.
If you’d like to add the fat to the filling yourself, consider a tuna in brine recipe. If you choose a tin in oil, take that oil into account when making your filling.
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Keeping leftovers without checking the storage instructions
Instructions vary by product: Saupiquet advises keeping its MSC whole tuna in brine in the fridge for two days, while Joybuy’s product information for a 140 g Petit Navire tin says to transfer it to a non-metallic container and consume within 24 hours.
Follow the storage instructions on the product you’ve bought rather than applying the guidance for a different tin.
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Choosing a tin size without considering everyone eating
The Anses has specific recommendations on fish consumption for pregnant or breastfeeding women and children under 3, particularly because of methylmercury.
If anyone in your household falls into one of these groups, check the Anses recommendations for their circumstances. The size of the tin won’t answer this question.
Brands to compare
The sizes and recipes below relate to specific products. Check the details on the tin you choose rather than assuming they apply to the whole brand.
Petit Navire
The brand offers tuna in brine and in oil in a range of sizes.
- Petit Navire lists its MSC Tuna in Brine as 160 g, with ingredients comprising tuna, water and salt.
- Another product, with a net weight of 140 g, lists a drained weight of 98 g. Compare the weight and recipe of each tin rather than assuming these figures apply to the whole range.
Saupiquet
Saupiquet’s product information for its MSC whole tuna in brine includes 93 g, 112 g and 140 g sizes.
- For this range, Saupiquet lists skipjack tuna, water, salt and natural flavouring.
- Check the size and instructions on the tin you buy. For this product, Saupiquet advises keeping it in the fridge for two days after opening.
Carrefour Classic'
Carrefour offers whole tuna in brine in a tin with a drained net weight of 140 g.
- The product information lists skipjack tuna, water and salt.
- The drained net weight applies to this specific product. Check the label if you choose a different Carrefour Classic' size.
Pêche Océan
E.Leclerc offers a 140 g drained net weight tin of whole albacore tuna in brine under this brand.
- The product information for this tin lists albacore tuna, water and salt.
- These details apply to this specific product. Check the size and information on the packaging you choose.
Auchan Cultivons le Bon
Auchan offers whole skipjack tuna in brine in a 140 g tin.
- For this product, Auchan lists skipjack tuna, water and salt, and says it is caught on free-swimming schools without a fish aggregating device.
- The sourcing information is what the retailer declares for this tin. It doesn’t replace comparing the drained weight and ingredients.
Tinned tuna to consider on Joybuy
These tins offer tuna in brine or oil for savoury crêpe fillings. Where stated, compare the drained weight, the tuna description and the ingredients to find the right option for your recipe.
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Petit Navire Tuna in brine, 140 g
This product lists both net and drained weights, making it easy to work out how much to use for a small filling.
- 140 g net weight, including 98 g drained, according to Joybuy’s product information.
- The product information lists skipjack tuna, water and salt.
- After opening, follow the instructions to transfer the tuna to a non-metallic container, refrigerate it and consume within 24 hours.
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Petit Navire MSC Tuna in natural juice, 160 g net weight, 112 g drained
This tin makes it easy to plan a tuna-in-brine filling using the 112 g drained weight shown.
- 160 g net weight, including 112 g drained, according to Joybuy’s product information.
- The product information lists tuna, water and salt; MSC appears in the product name.
- After opening, the product information advises refrigerating the tuna and consuming it within two days.
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Saupiquet Whole Tuna in brine, 93 g
The 93 g size may suit anyone making just a few crêpes and looking for distinct pieces of tuna.
- 93 g tin labelled ‘whole tuna’.
- To work out how much tuna you can use, check the drained weight on the packaging.
- Follow the instructions on the tin you buy after opening.
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Petit Navire White Tuna in brine, 140 g
This 140 g tin is an option if you want to use white tuna in brine in your recipe.
- Check the drained weight on the packaging to work out how much filling you’ll have.
- The product information for this tin warns that small bone fragments may be present. Check the tuna as you prepare it.
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Petit Navire Whole Tuna in sunflower oil, 160 g
Choose this recipe if you’d like the filling to include tuna and sunflower oil, rather than adding the fat separately.
- 160 g tin labelled ‘whole tuna’.
- Joybuy’s product information lists 10 g of fat per 100 g.
- Check the drained weight on the packaging to work out how much tuna to use.
Frequently asked questions
Why check the drained weight of a tin of tuna?
It tells you how much solid product you’ll have when the tuna is packed in liquid. The DGCCRF requires this weight to be shown in such cases. For example, a 140 g net tin of Petit Navire lists a drained weight of 98 g.
What information should I read before choosing a tin?
Read the product name, ingredients, highlighted allergens, net quantity and nutritional information. For prepacked food sold in France, the DGCCRF also sets out the applicable labelling rules, including the requirement to show drained net weight when the product is packed in liquid.
How long can you keep tuna after opening?
Follow the instructions on the tin you’ve bought, as they vary from product to product. Saupiquet advises keeping its MSC whole tuna in brine in the fridge for two days; Joybuy’s product information for a 140 g Petit Navire tin says to transfer the contents to a non-metallic container, refrigerate and consume within 24 hours.
Are there any special precautions during pregnancy or for a young child?
The Anses has specific recommendations on fish consumption for pregnant or breastfeeding women and children under 3, particularly because of exposure to methylmercury. If this applies to you, check its recommendations for your circumstances rather than choosing tuna based only on the size of the tin.
Is the MSC label enough to help you choose tuna for crêpes?
No. A fishing label on a product doesn’t tell you, on its own, how much tuna you’ll have once drained, what the ingredients are or what texture you can expect in your filling. Check these details separately on the tin you’re considering.