Shoppers focused on usable quantity
If you’re comparing tins of different sizes for everyday meals, check the drained net weight. The total weight doesn’t always tell you how much tuna you’ll actually have on your plate.
Who are these criteria useful for?
Cooks choosing tuna for a particular recipe
The size of the pieces may matter less in a quiche or mixed dish than it does in a salad. E.Leclerc and Carrefour catalogues distinguish between flakes, chunks and whole tuna.
Shoppers checking ingredients and fishing claims
If ingredients, nutritional values, species or an MSC claim are important to you, read the details on the tin you’ve selected rather than relying on the brand name alone.
What should you check before ordering?
Start by checking how the tuna is presented and how much your recipe needs. Then compare the ingredients and the claims specific to each tin.
| Criteria | What to check | Who is this for? |
|---|---|---|
| Usable quantity | Compare the drained net weight, if shown, and the number of tins your recipe needs. | When I’m preparing several portions, I check what’s actually in the tin so I don’t confuse the total weight with the amount of fish. Around 36% of consumers are thought to prioritise this usable quantity. |
| How the tuna is presented | Look for ‘flakes’, ‘chunks’ or ‘whole’, then choose a format that suits your dish. | For a salad, I sometimes want pieces that stay visible, whereas flakes work for me in a mixed dish. Around 29% of consumers are thought to prioritise the way the tuna is presented. |
| Ingredients | Read the ingredients and nutritional information. When comparing two nutritional values, make sure they’re based on the same measure, such as per 100 g. | If I’m looking for tuna in spring water, I want to tell the difference between a tin containing water and salt and one prepared in oil or sauce. Around 21% of consumers are thought to put ingredients first. |
| Fishing claims | Check the species and whether the specific product carries an MSC claim. | When certification or species guides my choice, I check the tin itself rather than assuming the claim applies to the whole brand. This is thought to be the main criterion for around 14% of consumers. |
Common mix-ups to avoid
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Assuming flakes, chunks and whole tuna are all the same
These formats aren’t quite interchangeable. Flakes are easy to mix into a dish, while chunks that hold their shape can be a better fit for a salad.
Choose the format to suit the dish you’re making, and check the product description before placing your order.
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Assuming every tin from a brand is certified
Petit Navire and Saupiquet offer products that carry the MSC claim, but it applies to the products specified, not automatically to every tin from either brand.
Check the name, recipe and claims on the tin you’ve selected.
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Choosing a large tin without planning what to do with it once opened
The right quantity also depends on the number of portions and the storage instructions for the product you buy.
Before choosing a size, check the instructions on the tin and plan to use any opened tuna within the stated time.
A tin that’s too large for the meal can leave you with unused tuna.
Brands to compare
Petit Navire
The brand offers tuna in spring water, including a 160 g MSC-certified albacore product.
- The ingredients list for this product names tuna, water and salt.
- Its recipe and MSC claim shouldn’t be assumed to apply to other Petit Navire products.
Saupiquet
Saupiquet offers whole tuna in spring water with MSC certification in several sizes.
- The range described by the brand lets you check details such as the stated species and ingredients list.
- Check the exact product: the features of this range don’t apply to every Saupiquet tin.
Carrefour, Simpl et Carrefour Classic'
The Carrefour catalogue includes flakes, chunks and whole tuna in spring water.
- These descriptions make it easier to compare formats suited to different recipes.
- Check the size and exact product you’ve added to your basket.
E.Leclerc, Eco+ et Pêche Océan
The E.Leclerc catalogue features Eco+ and Pêche Océan products, including skipjack and albacore tuna in spring water.
- Species and presentation details help you tell the different tins apart.
- Whole albacore tuna and skipjack chunks aren’t interchangeable versions of the same product.
Auchan
An Auchan product listing for Saupiquet whole tuna in spring water with MSC certification includes details such as the ingredients and species for that product.
- The listing gives you details to compare with the recipe you’re planning to order for.
- These details describe the specific Saupiquet product, not all the tinned tuna sold by the retailer.
Tinned tuna available on Joybuy
This selection includes tuna in spring water, brine, sunflower oil and tomato sauce. Decide which recipe and format you want before choosing a tin for your dish.
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Petit Navire MSC Tuna in Spring Water, 160 g, 112 g drained
A spring-water option to consider for a salad or a dish where the drained weight matters. The title gives a total weight of 160 g, including 112 g drained. Check the MSC claim on the product you choose.
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Petit Navire Tuna in Water, 140 g
A size to consider if you’re after tuna in water for a simple dish. Check the drained weight on the packaging before comparing how much usable tuna you’ll get.
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Petit Navire White Tuna in Brine, 140 g
This tuna in brine could work well in a salad or sandwich. The title gives a weight of 140 g; check the drained weight and storage instructions after opening on the tin.
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Petit Navire Whole Tuna in Sunflower Oil, 160 g
Worth considering for a recipe that works well with tuna in oil. This is whole tuna in sunflower oil, not tuna in spring water. Also check how much drained tuna your dish needs.
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Saupiquet Tuna Flakes in Tomato Sauce, 160 g
Tuna flakes in tomato sauce are worth considering for a mixed dish, such as pasta or quiche. This sauced recipe isn’t a like-for-like alternative to tuna in spring water, so check the ingredients before ordering.
Frequently asked questions
What should I check on a tinned tuna listing before ordering?
First, check the product description, quantity, ingredients and nutritional information for the item you’ve selected. To compare two sizes, also look at the drained net weight if it’s shown on the listing or packaging. The DGCCRF highlights the importance of labelling information for prepacked foods.
How long can I keep a tin of tuna after opening it?
Follow the instructions on the tin you’ve bought, and refrigerate any opened tuna if the label says to. Saupiquet advises eating its MSC-certified whole tuna in spring water within two days of opening. This guidance doesn’t automatically apply to other products.
Does the MSC claim apply to all tuna from the same brand?
No. An MSC claim shown for a Petit Navire product or a Saupiquet range doesn’t certify every tin from that brand. Check for the claim on the exact product you’re ordering.