Who is this choice for?

Vegans looking for a tuna alternative

For salads, sandwiches or quick meals without fish, rule out tinned tuna and look at vegan alternatives designed for these uses.

People mindful of ingredients and allergens

Plant-based recipes may contain ingredients such as wheat gluten, soya or peas. Check the allergen warnings for the exact product too.

People who organise their shopping around the freezer

If freezer storage is essential, look for a product explicitly labelled as frozen: the Vuna and Kokiriki alternatives featured by Carrefour are listed as chilled products.

What should you check?

For a vegan shop, first check that the product contains no fish or other animal-derived ingredients. Then compare the allergens and storage instructions for the product you plan to buy.

Criteria What to check Who is it for?
No fish Read the product name and ingredients list; a reference to fishing does not make tuna suitable for a vegan diet. I want to replace tuna without buying fish or any other animal-derived ingredient. Around 46% of consumers would make this their top priority.
Ingredients and allergens Check the ingredients and warnings on the exact packaging, particularly for wheat gluten or soya. For meals without fish, I also need to avoid certain ingredients found in plant-based alternatives. Ingredients and allergens would be a priority for around 27% of consumers.
Storage Check whether the product needs to be kept chilled or is explicitly intended for the freezer. I plan to put my shopping in the freezer and don’t want to mistake a chilled product for a frozen one. Around 27% of consumers would put storage first.

Mistakes to avoid

  • Assuming tuna ‘in spring water’ is a vegan option

    The Petit Navire and Saupiquet products featured by Auchan contain tuna. References to how it is prepared or caught don’t change that ingredient.

    For a vegan shop, rule out products that list fish and check the ingredients in plant-based alternatives.

  • Assuming ‘plant-based’ meets all dietary requirements

    According to Carrefour, Vuna contains wheat gluten, while the Kokiriki recipe includes soya, wheat and peas, among other ingredients.

    Read the ingredients and allergen warnings on the exact pack before choosing.

  • Confusing chilled and frozen products

    Carrefour says Vuna and Kokiriki should be kept chilled: being presented as tuna alternatives doesn’t mean they are frozen fillets.

    If a freezer is essential to your routine, look for a product explicitly labelled as frozen and follow the storage instructions on its packaging.

  • Expecting a tuna alternative to have the same nutritional values as tuna

    A product made from plant-based ingredients has its own recipe; its name doesn’t tell you its nutritional values or texture.

    Compare the nutritional information and ingredients of the specific products you’re interested in.

Plant-based alternative brands to know

Garden Gourmet

Carrefour describes Vuna as a plant-based tuna-style alternative for hot or cold dishes, including salads, sandwiches and pasta.

  • The recipe featured by Carrefour contains pea protein isolates.
  • It contains wheat gluten. Carrefour classifies it as ‘vegetarian’: if you’re buying for a vegan diet, check the details and ingredients of the exact product.

Kokiriki

Carrefour describes the Kokiriki product as a vegan alternative to flaked tuna, suitable for salads and quick meals, among other uses.

  • The Carrefour listing says the recipe contains soya, wheat and peas.
  • This product is listed as chilled; check the allergens and availability when you buy.

Senfas

The Black Cow Shop presents Ton Veggie Nature as a plant-based alternative to tuna.

  • The ingredients published by The Black Cow Shop include jackfruit, fava bean protein and wakame.
  • Check the ingredients and storage instructions for the exact product before you buy.

Joybuy products

Related products will be available soon.

Frequently asked questions

Is tinned tuna suitable for a vegan diet?

No: the Petit Navire and Saupiquet tins featured by Auchan list tuna in their ingredients. For a vegan shop, look for a vegan alternative and check the ingredients of the product you choose.

Can you use a plant-based tuna alternative in a salad or sandwich?

Yes, depending on the product: Carrefour suggests Vuna for salads and sandwiches, and lists salads among the uses for Kokiriki. If you have dietary restrictions, check the ingredients and allergens.

Should Vuna and Kokiriki be stored in the freezer?

The Carrefour listings for Vuna and Kokiriki say to keep them chilled; they are not frozen fillets. If you need a product for the freezer, choose one whose packaging specifies this storage method.

Which allergens should you check in these plant-based tuna alternatives?

It depends on the recipe: according to Carrefour, Vuna contains wheat gluten and may also contain eggs, sesame, celery, soya and mustard; the Kokiriki product contains soya, wheat and peas. Check the information on the exact product.