For a Christmas meal, start by choosing between two separate considerations: whether the tin contains organic agricultural ingredients, and what information it gives about the fishery. The European Commission explains that products from wild-caught fish are excluded from organic production rules, so an ‘organic’ claim does not certify the wild tuna itself. Then compare the recipe and drained weight with the dish you have planned, and check the exact MSC wording separately if the fishery matters to your choice.
You’re planning a Christmas starter and want to know which ingredients are organic, without assuming that the wild tuna is. The European Commission distinguishes wild fishing from organic production; the label lets you check the ingredients and what the claim applies to.
You’re looking for tuna in spring water to season for pâté, individual appetisers or a salad, and the MSC information matters to you. Check the wording on the product you choose: displaying a certification and being part of a programme aiming to achieve it are not the same thing.
Choose between tuna in spring water, olive oil or basil, depending on the dish you’re making. Drained weight also helps you work out how much tuna to serve, especially if you want the pieces to stand out on the plate.
For a Christmas meal, start with the factor that matters most to you, then check the recipe and how much tuna your dish will need.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is this for? |
|---|---|---|
| What ‘organic’ applies to | Read the ingredients list and check the proportion of organic agricultural ingredients stated on the tin. The European Commission excludes wild fishing from organic production rules. | I want to use organic agricultural ingredients without mistaking the claim for organic certification of wild tuna; around 33% of consumers would make this their top priority. |
| Information about the fishery | Check whether the product carries an MSC label or simply describes a programme aiming to achieve certification: Saupiquet and Petit Navire use these different wordings for different products. | If information about the fishery comes before the recipe in my decision, I need to check the exact wording; this would be the main consideration for around 25% of consumers. |
| Recipe and serving quantity | Choose between tuna in spring water, olive oil or a flavoured recipe, then compare the drained weights. Carrefour lists a drained weight of 104 g for its Carrefour Extra product and 112 g for Mouettes d’Arvor. | For a spread or pieces served as a starter, I want a recipe and quantity that suit the dish; around 25% of consumers would put this culinary result first. |
| Ingredients and guests | Read the ingredients on the product you choose. If you’re serving pregnant or breastfeeding women, or children under 3, bear in mind Anses’ advice on wild predatory fish, including tuna. | I want an easy-to-read ingredients list and also need to consider who’s at the table; this would be the first concern for around 17% of consumers. |
According to the European Commission, products from wild-caught fish are excluded from organic production rules. A tin can carry a claim relating to its agricultural ingredients without that claim applying to the wild-caught fish.
Check which ingredients the claim applies to and the exact wording on the tin.
Petit Navire describes one product as coming from a fishery involved in a programme aiming to achieve MSC certification, while Saupiquet says its MSC natural tuna comes from a fishery that meets the MSC standard.
Check the wording on the tin you’re buying rather than assuming the status of one product applies to an entire brand.
Drained weight is the figure to use if you’re serving the tuna without its covering liquid. Carrefour lists a drained weight of 104 g for its Carrefour Extra product and 112 g for Mouettes d’Arvor.
Add together the drained weights of the tins you plan to use, then adjust the quantity to suit your recipe and number of guests.
Anses advises pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children under 3, to limit their consumption of wild predatory fish, including tuna, and to eat a variety of species.
If this applies to any of your guests, bear the advice in mind when planning the meal.
The retailer lists products carrying an ‘Organic’ claim, including a Carrefour Extra tin in extra virgin olive oil and a Mouettes d’Arvor recipe in spring water with basil.
One product in extra virgin olive oil carries both MSC and Organic claims; each relates to a different consideration.
The ‘Organic’ labelled skipjack tuna in spring water with basil is worth considering for a dish that suits this seasoning.
MSC natural tuna is worth considering if information about the fishery matters more to you than organic agricultural ingredients.
The ‘Tuna in Spring Water – Responsible Approach’ product is an example of fishery information that should be considered separately from organic and MSC claims.
These two Petit Navire tins of tuna in spring water carry MSC in their product names. They may suit you if you’re looking for information about the fishery rather than choosing on the basis of organic ingredients. If organic is your top priority, check the claims and ingredients on the packaging separately.
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Worth considering for a Christmas dish that you’d like to season yourself. The product name gives a drained weight of 112 g and a total weight of 160 g. Check the MSC claim on the tin if it’s a deciding factor for you.
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Worth considering if you’d prefer white tuna in spring water for your Christmas recipe. The product name gives a weight of 112 g but doesn’t say whether this is the drained weight. Check before planning your portions, and check the MSC claim too if it matters to you.
Not as a result of wild fishing: the European Commission excludes products from wild-caught fish from organic production rules. If a tin carries an ‘Organic’ claim, check which ingredients it applies to rather than assuming it applies to the wild tuna.
The claim should be considered in relation to the product’s agricultural ingredients. For its Connétable MSC Bio product, Carrefour states that 34% of the ingredients of agricultural origin come from organic farming. Check the exact wording on the tin you’re thinking of buying.
No. MSC relates to the fishery, while organic production is covered by different rules; according to the European Commission, these exclude wild fishing. Check each claim separately, and distinguish MSC certification from a programme aiming to achieve it.
Compare the drained weight if you’re serving the tuna without its covering liquid. Carrefour lists a drained weight of 104 g for its Carrefour Extra tuna in olive oil and 112 g for Mouettes d’Arvor with basil. Adjust the number of tins to suit your recipe and guests.
Yes. Anses advises pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children under 3, to limit their consumption of wild predatory fish, including tuna, and to eat a variety of species. This advice relates to the overall diet; it is not a general ban on any particular tin.