Seafood · Product label guide
Canned fish: compare ingredients, then choose.
Updated
Compare tuna species, added oils, and ingredients. This ingredient check does not test mercury.
The short answer
Our picks for canned fish
Top of the shelf365 by Whole Foods Market Albacore Wild Tuna, Safe Catch Elite Wild Tuna, and Wild Planet Albacore Wild Tuna each score 100/100. 51 products tie at 100; these 3 have the shortest labels. Use Compare by in the table to separate the rest.
Also strongWild Planet Premium Wild Albacore Tuna No Salt Added (100), Wild Planet Skipjack Wild Tuna (100), and Wild Planet Skipjack Wild Tuna No Salt Added (100).
Clear noChicken of the Sea Chunk Light Tuna Il Oil (lists seed oils), Chicken of the Sea Chunk Light Tuna in Oil (lists seed oils), Fishwife Fly by Jing Smoked Salmon (lists seed oils), plus 4 more with a listed group. We also can’t vouch for the 21 products without a verified current label; treat them as “not yet”.
Ranked from 58 of 79 products with current labels. Every product is in the table below; a score reflects labels and claims, not nutrition, allergies or safety.
Compare the recorded labels
Find the ingredients that matter to you.
“No …” columns: None found on the label · Listed on the label · Unknown. Diet fit: Fits · Doesn’t fit · Unknown (rules; not medical advice). Claims: verified · not established. Default: most check marks first; not a health score.
| Buy | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 / 1009 of 9 groups clear · organic not applicable | Product details → | 4 | |||||
Recorded ingredients CHUNK WHITE ALBACORE TUNA. WATER. Label checked 2026-10-18 · US Source: USDA FoodData Central ↗ · FDC ID 2460512 · data date 2023-02-16 · release 2026-04-30. Brand-submitted label record, public domain (CC0). | |||||||
| 100 / 1009 of 9 groups clear · organic not applicable | Product details → | 4 | |||||
Recorded ingredients LIGHT TUNA, WATER, VEGETABLE BROTH, SEA SALT. Label checked 2026-10-16 · US Source: USDA FoodData Central ↗ · FDC ID 2463560 · data date 2023-02-16 · release 2026-04-30. Brand-submitted label record, public domain (CC0). | |||||||
| 100 / 1009 of 9 groups clear · organic not applicable | Product details → | 4 | |||||
Recorded ingredients PINK SALMON, SALT Label checked 2026-10-16 · US Source: USDA FoodData Central ↗ · FDC ID 2607563 · data date 2023-07-13 · release 2026-04-30. Brand-submitted label record, public domain (CC0). | |||||||
| 100 / 1009 of 9 groups clear · organic not applicable | Product details → | 4 | |||||
Recorded ingredients WHITE TUNA, WATER, VEGETABLE BROTH, SEA SALT Label checked 2026-10-16 · US Source: USDA FoodData Central ↗ · FDC ID 2654470 · data date 2023-10-26 · release 2026-04-30. Brand-submitted label record, public domain (CC0). | |||||||
| 100 / 1009 of 9 groups clear · organic not applicable | Find where to buy ↗Product details → | 4 | |||||
Recorded ingredients WHITE TUNA, WATER, VEGETABLE BROTH, SEA SALT, PYROPHOSPHATE ADDED Label checked 2026-10-16 · US Source: USDA FoodData Central ↗ · FDC ID 2599194 · data date 2023-07-13 · release 2026-04-30. Brand-submitted label record, public domain (CC0). | |||||||
| 100 / 1009 of 9 groups clear · organic not applicable | Find where to buy ↗Product details → | 4 | |||||
Recorded ingredients SARDINES, WATER, SALT. Label checked 2026-10-16 · US Source: USDA FoodData Central ↗ · FDC ID 2404779 · data date 2022-12-22 · release 2026-04-30. Brand-submitted label record, public domain (CC0). | |||||||
| 100 / 1009 of 9 groups clear · organic not applicable | Product details → | 4 | |||||
Recorded ingredients NATURALLY WOOD SMOKED FILLETS OF KIPPERED HERRING, SALT Label checked 2026-10-16 · US Source: USDA FoodData Central ↗ · FDC ID 2676841 · data date 2023-11-16 · release 2026-04-30. Brand-submitted label record, public domain (CC0). | |||||||
| 100 / 1009 of 9 groups clear · organic not applicable | Find where to buy ↗Product details → | 4 | |||||
Recorded ingredients Anchovies (fish), organic extra virgin olive oil, salt. Label checked 2026-10-17 · US Ingredient evidence source ↗Producer claims Sourcing claim not reviewed The catalog establishes this product’s name and photograph. Sourcing claims and a complete ingredient label may still need review. Producer claim source ↗Reviewed | |||||||
| 100 / 1009 of 9 groups clear · organic not applicable | Find where to buy ↗Product details → | 4 | |||||
Recorded ingredients Atlantic salmon (fish), dark brown sugar, salt, garlic salt (sea salt, garlic, salt, modified corn starch, sugar, parsley, natural flavor, extractives of carrot) Label checked 2026-10-17 · US Ingredient evidence source ↗Producer claims Sourcing claim not reviewed The catalog establishes this product’s name and photograph. Sourcing claims and a complete ingredient label may still need review. Producer claim source ↗Reviewed | |||||||
| 100 / 1009 of 9 groups clear · organic not applicable | Product details → | 4 | |||||
Recorded ingredients SOLID LIGHT YELLOWFIN TUNA, EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL, SEA SALT. Label checked 2026-10-16 · US Source: USDA FoodData Central ↗ · FDC ID 2678611 · data date 2023-11-16 · release 2026-04-30. Brand-submitted label record, public domain (CC0). | |||||||
| 100 / 1009 of 9 groups clear · organic not applicable | Product details → | 4 | |||||
Recorded ingredients TUNA, WATER, LEMON JUICE, VEGETABLE BROTH (CONTAINS SOY), SUGAR, BLACK PEPPER, CITRIC ACID, SEA SALT, LEMON FLAVOR. Label checked 2026-10-18 · US Source: USDA FoodData Central ↗ · FDC ID 2625043 · data date 2023-08-31 · release 2026-04-30. Brand-submitted label record, public domain (CC0). | |||||||
| 100 / 1009 of 9 groups clear · organic not applicable | Product details → | 4 | |||||
Recorded ingredients PINK SALMON, SALT. Label checked 2026-10-18 · US Source: USDA FoodData Central ↗ · FDC ID 2505408 · data date 2023-03-16 · release 2026-04-30. Brand-submitted label record, public domain (CC0). | |||||||
| 100 / 1009 of 9 groups clear · organic not applicable | Product details → | 4 | |||||
Recorded ingredients LIGHTLY SMOKED BRISLING SARDINES, WATER Label checked 2026-10-16 · US Source: USDA FoodData Central ↗ · FDC ID 2615146 · data date 2023-08-31 · release 2026-04-30. Brand-submitted label record, public domain (CC0). | |||||||
| 100 / 1009 of 9 groups clear · organic not applicable | Product details → | 4 | |||||
Recorded ingredients INGREDIENTS: WHITE TUNA, WATER, SEA SALT, PYROPHOSPHATE ADDED. Label checked 2026-10-18 · US Source: USDA FoodData Central ↗ · FDC ID 2266512 · data date 2022-05-23 · release 2026-04-30. Brand-submitted label record, public domain (CC0). | |||||||
| 100 / 1009 of 9 groups clear · organic not applicable | Product details → | 4 | |||||
Recorded ingredients LIGHT YELLOWFIN TUNA, WATER, VEGETABLE BROTH (CARROTS, CELERY, PEAS, SOYBEANS), SALT. Label checked 2026-10-18 · US Source: USDA FoodData Central ↗ · FDC ID 2617158 · data date 2023-08-31 · release 2026-04-30. Brand-submitted label record, public domain (CC0). | |||||||
| 100 / 1009 of 9 groups clear · organic not applicable | Product details → | 4 | |||||
Recorded ingredients LIGHT TUNA, WATER, VEGETABLE BROTH, SALT. Label checked 2026-10-18 · US Source: USDA FoodData Central ↗ · FDC ID 2635455 · data date 2023-09-14 · release 2026-04-30. Brand-submitted label record, public domain (CC0). | |||||||
| 100 / 1009 of 9 groups clear · organic not applicable | Find where to buy ↗Product details → | 4 | |||||
Producer claims Sourcing claim not reviewed The catalog establishes this product’s name and photograph. Sourcing claims and a complete ingredient label may still need review. Producer claim source ↗Reviewed | |||||||
| 100 / 1009 of 9 groups clear · organic not applicable | Buy on Amazon ↗Product details → | 4 | |||||
Recorded ingredients Skipjack Tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis). Contains: Fish (Tuna). Label checked 2026-10-05 · US Ingredient evidence source ↗ | |||||||
| 100 / 1009 of 9 groups clear · organic not applicable | Product details → | 4 | |||||
Recorded ingredients ALBACORE TUNA (THUNNUS ALALUNGA), SALT. Label checked 2026-10-16 · US Source: USDA FoodData Central ↗ · FDC ID 2392221 · data date 2022-12-22 · release 2026-04-30. Brand-submitted label record, public domain (CC0). | |||||||
| 100 / 1009 of 9 groups clear · organic not applicable | Product details → | 4 | |||||
Recorded ingredients PINK SALMON (ONCORHYNCHUS GORBUSCHA), SALT. Label checked 2026-10-18 · US Source: USDA FoodData Central ↗ · FDC ID 2487185 · data date 2023-02-16 · release 2026-04-30. Brand-submitted label record, public domain (CC0). | |||||||
How the clean score works
No setup needed, and strict: a full 100 needs every additive group clear and a verified organic claim (animal foods also need a verified grass-fed or pasture-raised claim; wild seafood and salt, which have no USDA organic standard, are scored without the organic points, and plant-based milks, cheeses and proteins without the feeding claim). Points: the nine additive groups (seed oils, artificial dyes, MSG, artificial sweeteners, carrageenan, artificial preservatives, hydrogenated oils, corn syrups, banned-abroad additives) share 60 points equally — not found earns a group’s full share, “may contain” earns half, listed earns 0; a verified organic claim is worth 25; a verified grass-fed or pasture-raised claim is worth 15 and counts only for animal foods. No claim, or an expired or unverified claim, earns nothing, so products without those claims cannot reach 100. Unverified or expired ingredient labels receive no score. Equal scores are equal. Ties are ordered by brand. Unknown and stale evidence never passes “Only show matches.” Producer claims and prices do not affect this score. This is not a nutrition, allergy, or safety rating.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Buying links do not influence ingredient results. “Buy on Amazon” opens a reviewed product listing; “Find where to buy” opens the maker’s page. Confirm the package, seller, stock, and current price before checkout. Price observations expire after 30 days.
The full guide · Seafood
Choosing canned fish: what to check before you buy
Compare the exact fish species, packing liquid and drained portion. Tuna, salmon, sardines and other canned seafood differ in flavor and how you use them, while sauces and added oils change the recipe.
Check sodium and whether nutrition is stated for drained fish or the full contents. For mercury-related choices, use the FDA/EPA fish guidance linked below; the ingredient check does not measure mercury in a can.
What the labels on this shelf show
We track 79 products from 19 brands on the canned fish shelf. 58 have a complete, current ingredient label on record (73%), which is what lets us score them. The other 21 stay unscored until the maker publishes a full label; a missing label is “not yet”, never a pass.
Of the 58 scored labels, 51 (88%) list none of the nine additive groups we check. The group that appears most is seed oils, listed on 7 labels. None of the scored products carries a verified organic claim, which is why scores cluster below 100. Scores here run from 89 to 100, and the typical label lists 3 ingredients.
What to compare
- Exact species
- Read the species rather than treating every tuna or seafood product as the same.
- Packing and drained amount
- Compare water, oil or sauce and the portion you will eat.
- Sodium
- Check the same serving amount and whether the panel is for drained contents.
- Mercury and sourcing
- Use the FDA/EPA species guidance for mercury questions and fishery details for sourcing.
The best picks, in detail
These are the highest-scoring canned fish products on current labels. 51 products tie at 100, so we put the shortest ingredient lists first; Always match the exact flavor and package before you buy.
365 by Whole Foods Market Albacore Wild Tuna 100/100
Why it ranks here: no tracked additive group on the label, no verified organic claim. Label: “CHUNK WHITE ALBACORE TUNA. WATER.”
Maker’s label sourceSafe Catch Elite Wild Tuna 100/100
Why it ranks here: no tracked additive group on the label, no verified organic claim. Label: “Skipjack Tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis). Contains: Fish (Tuna).”
Buy on Amazon ↗Maker’s label sourceWild Planet Albacore Wild Tuna 100/100
Why it ranks here: no tracked additive group on the label, no verified organic claim. Label: “ALBACORE TUNA (THUNNUS ALALUNGA) AND SEA SALT.”
Maker’s label sourceWild Planet Premium Wild Albacore Tuna No Salt Added 100/100
Why it ranks here: no tracked additive group on the label, no verified organic claim. Label: “Albacore tuna (Thunnus alalunga)”
Find where to buy ↗Maker’s label sourceWild Planet Skipjack Wild Tuna 100/100
Why it ranks here: no tracked additive group on the label, no verified organic claim. Label: “Skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis) and sea salt”
Buy on Amazon ↗Maker’s label sourceWild Planet Skipjack Wild Tuna No Salt Added 100/100
Why it ranks here: no tracked additive group on the label, no verified organic claim. Label: “Skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis)”
Buy on Amazon ↗Maker’s label source
What to skip, and why
These scored products list at least one group on their current label. That is the clearest reason to pass if you are avoiding those ingredients.
- Chicken of the Sea Chunk Light Tuna Il Oil lists seed oils (89/100)
- Chicken of the Sea Chunk Light Tuna in Oil lists seed oils (89/100)
- Fishwife Fly by Jing Smoked Salmon lists seed oils (89/100)
The 21 products without a verified label are a separate “not yet”: we have no recorded ingredient list to check, so we cannot say they are clean or flagged.
Your preferences, explained
The clean score is strict and needs no setup: nine additive groups not found in a current ingredient statement, plus a verified organic claim (and a grass-fed or pasture-raised claim for animal foods), are needed for 100; a possible match earns half and a missing claim earns nothing. Missing or expired evidence stays unknown. It does not assess nutrition, allergies, contaminants, or safety.
References
- Advice about eating fish U.S. Food and Drug Administration
- Omega-3 fatty acids fact sheet for consumers NIH Office of Dietary Supplements
- Fish Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
- Seafood Watch recommendations Monterey Bay Aquarium
- MSC certified sustainable seafood Marine Stewardship Council
An ingredient check is not a nutrition, contaminant, allergy or safety assessment. How we verify labels →