What comes to your mind when someone mentions a quick yummy seafood meal? Canned tuna, right? It is one of the most popular seafood in the US.
With such popularity, some wolves will inevitably be in sheep’s clothing.
To find the best-canned tuna, first, you should be aware of the brands that sell unhealthy and destructively obtained tuna.
To help you out, we have listed some of the worst tuna brands to avoid if you love seafood and ocean animals.
And to help you a little more, we have also mentioned a few of the best tuna brands at the end. Now, without further ado, let’s dive straight into it.
Table of Contents
- List of 5 Tuna Brands to Avoid
- 1. Starkist
- 2. Bumblebee
- 3. Chicken of the Sea
- 4. Kirkland
- 5. Walmart’s
- 5 Most Reliable Tuna Brands
- 1. Wild Planet
- 2. Safe Catch
- 3. Ocean Naturals
- 4. 365 Everyday Value
- 5. Oritz
- Does Canned Tuna Go Bad?
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Can you eat canned tuna after the expiration date?
- How long can tuna last in the fridge?
- Final Words
- Crystal Hafley
List of 5 Tuna Brands to Avoid
Due to unsustainable practices, health concerns, and high mercury levels, the worst tuna brands are Starkist, Bumblebee, Chicken of the Sea, Kirkland, and Walmart’s tuna.
1. Starkist
Starkist is owned by one of the largest shareholders in the US. However, Starkist itself is a very popular brand.
But, there is a reason that we have included this brand in our list of the 5 tuna brands to avoid, and that though on the top.
The biggest problem with Starkist is that it sells dirty and cheap quality tuna. This, in reality, is not acceptable. Who would like to have tuna that is not healthy at all? No one, we know, right?
Let’s go through the overall flaws of Starkist.
Reasons to Avoid
- Unsustainable
- A bit too watery
- May cause health issues
2. Bumblebee
Compared to other tuna brands, Bumblebee products are preferred by most customers.
However, it cannot be said for all its products. Tuna wrapped in soybean oil is one of these items.
There is no problem with the ingredients; they are all very simple. But the main problem is adding soybean oil alongside the sea salt and vegetable broth.
Soybean doesn’t offer any health benefits like olive oil because it is unsaturated.
Apart from this, Greenpeace also recommends avoiding this brand’s greenwashing.
The company was also accused of possible human and animal rights violations.
Before moving on to the next tuna brand, let’s briefly examine the general issues.
Reasons to Avoid
- Use of unsaturated oil
- Unsustainable
- Uses destructive methods
In the same way, Bumblebee’s addition of soybean oil raises health concerns; parents should also be vigilant about bad baby foods, as these are not as healthy as they seem.
3. Chicken of the Sea
The next brand we want to discuss is “Chicken of the Sea.” It is the third-largest tuna brand in the US.
This brand is one most readily available tuna brands in the market. However, it doesn’t mean it is one of the best options.
The brand claims to provide sustainable products. But if you look at their website, you’ll find that their methods to catch tuna are destructive to the ocean.
Moreover, the brand is accused of risking their worker’s life to fill their tuna cans. Let’s take a look at the overall drawbacks of this brand.
Reasons to Avoid
- Unsustainable
- Uses destructive methods
- Human right violation
4. Kirkland
Costco’s house brand is famous for providing high-quality tuna with no preservatives and fillers.
However, there have been some issues with this brand. In 2017, Kirkland was ranked as the nine worst tuna cans.
If you are concerned about the ocean’s animals, you should avoid this brand as destructive methods also catch the tuna used by this brand.
Let’s take a look at the cons of the Kirkland canned tuna.
Reasons to Avoid
- Irresponsibly caught tuna
- High mercury content
- Not pure tuna
5. Walmart’s
Walmart is one of the largest retailers in the US. It is famous for selling potentially unethical and destructive tuna.
Walmart takes its tuna from companies that don’t supply sustainable and ethical tuna.
By getting tuna from such companies, Walmart is indirectly supporting ocean destruction.
Also, it has failed the Greenpeace rating due to its unsustainable tuna and labor concerns. Let’s take a look at the overall cons of this brand.
Reasons to Avoid
- Uses destructive methods
- Inhuman working conditions
- Not pure tuna
So, these were 5 of the tuna brands that you should avoid. Now that you know about the worst tuna brands, how about we also tell you about a few of the best ones?
5 Most Reliable Tuna Brands
Look at 5 of the best tuna brands you should try if you are a tuna lover. Let’s get started.
1. Wild Planet
Bring the original sea flavors to your plate with these tuna fish cans.
Whether albacore or skipjack, this brand offers a huge variety of canned tuna. Moreover, the tuna is packed with olive oil.
Wild Planet is different from other brands because the former uses only sea salt to preserve its fish. These cans are free of water, oil, or any other filler.
If you are an environmentally conscious person looking for tender and fully flavored tuna, Wild Planet is the brand you should go for.
2. Safe Catch
Safe Catch has a comprehensive collection of high-quality seasoned tuna cans from habanero-mint to citrus pepper and chile-lime.
This brand is popular for the production of low-level mercury fish.
Moreover, the tuna used by Safe Catch is caught without using any destructive methods.
There is no added oil or saltwater in these cans, and you can eat them directly from the can, as a side dish, or however you like.
3. Ocean Naturals
One of the world’s largest tuna dealers owns Ocean Naturals. This brand only uses non-destructive methods to catch tuna.
Ocean Naturals is known for producing simple canned tuna packed with just water or olive oil. Moreover, Greenpeace has awarded this brand a “Green” label rating.
4. 365 Everyday Value
The Whole Food store brand’s tuna is responsibly caught without any destructive fishing method.
It is also famous for providing 100% sustainable canned tuna. Also, they are packed with water and have low sodium.
5. Oritz
Oritz is a high-quality producing canned fish. Whether you want anchovies, mackerel, or tuna, Oritz offers almost every variety of fish.
Oritz tuna is packed with olive oil and is very delicious and full of flavors.
Unlike other fish products, these canned tunas have a distinct and fresh smell. You can have them however you like. They don’t leave any aftertaste.
Does Canned Tuna Go Bad?
Canned tuna is a staple for many people on their lunch break. One of the most common concerns around canned tuna is how long it last?
The optimal time for canned tuna to be consumed is 3-4 months from its canned date.
However, this also varies depending on the type of can you use.
If you are uncertain about your product’s expiration date, always check the package and follow instructions to ensure your food stays safe and fresh.
And if you are a vegan looking for other alternatives, we have a selection of top plant-based vegan meat brands.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you eat canned tuna after the expiration date?
No, you should not eat canned tuna after the expiration date.” The reason is that fish has a high risk of spoilage and thus can be dangerous to consume after the expiration date.
How long can tuna last in the fridge?
Tuna can last in the fridge for up to two days. However, the quality of the fish will deteriorate as it sits longer. For best results, eat within one day of purchasing.
Final Words
So, these were a few of the worst tuna brands you should avoid if you don’t want to hate tuna.
The brands that we have mentioned were quite popular. However, if we look at these in detail, they also have certain drawbacks.
And that is why I decided to compile them all together to bring you the five tuna brands to avoid that are not good enough to try.
Our research discovered that most of these companies caught tunas using techniques harmful to marine life.
Moreover, they also had some ingredients that were not healthy for our skin.
Before you shop some canned tuna, cross-check all the cons we discussed. Also, we have mentioned some of the best tuna brands for your convenience.
If you are unsure which one to buy, you can try any of the brands we mentioned later in the article.
If you think we have missed any brand that should be included in our list, we would be glad to know your thoughts.
Crystal Hafley is a dedicated writer and content creator for WorstBrands, where she specializes in writing insightful reviews about kitchen appliances and fashion products.
With her expertise, Crystal provides readers with accurate and reliable information to help them make informed decisions about the brands and products they use every day. When she's not researching or writing, Crystal enjoys cooking and exploring the latest fashion trends.