There are nine products in Tassal's Quick and Healthy Premium Tasmanian Atlantic Salmon range available in 95g and 185g cans.
SAFCOL TUNA
was founded in 1945 by a group of South Australian Fishermen to sell their catch; the first of its kind in Australia. This connection with the craft and the catch has been constant throughout our history.
In general, it is safe for all population groups, including pregnant women, to consume 2-3 serves of any type of tuna per week (canned or fresh). Canned tuna generally has lower levels of mercury than other tuna because the tuna used for canning are smaller species that are generally caught when less than 1 year old.
Sourcing and checks
We now have manufacturing facilities in both Thailand and Indonesia. To ensure we are able to provide the safest and highest quality standards, all our products are only manufactured at world class production facilities.
Southern bluefin tuna are found all around Australia. They are most commonly caught during the summer months for the ranching sector, and are caught by longline off our eastern coastline during winter.
Tuna, wild caught in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean using FAD-free Purse Seine fishing methods.
Best in breed
If the tin doesn't list the type of tuna, don't buy it. Brands with decent credentials include Fish 4 Eva, John West, Safcol and Sirena. Aldi and Coles own-brand cans are OK, too, but check each for breed and catch method.
For example, Bumble Bee Foods supplies Kirkland's canned tuna, but they are required to make sure that the tuna is far more substantial than flaky. In doing so, Costco spent a year overseeing the Bumble Bee Foods plant in Puerto Rico.
Skipjack are the smallest of the major tuna species, while yellowfin are larger. So, the fact the canned tuna in Australian cupboards is likely to contain smaller species is already a bonus when it comes to reducing mercury risk.
Sirena is an Australian brand of canned premium chunk style tuna which began as a passion for good food and a desire to share great tasting food with the community. After immigrating to Australia in 1949, Carlo Valmorbida and his family embarked on a project to bring Italy's best loved foods to Australia.
Five of the most commonly eaten fish that are low in mercury are shrimp, canned light tuna, salmon, pollock, and catfish. Another commonly eaten fish, albacore ("white") tuna has more mercury than canned light tuna.
When buying tuna, opt for skipjack or canned light varieties, which do not harbor as much mercury as albacore or bigeye. You can consume skipjack and canned light tuna alongside other low-mercury species, such as cod, crab, salmon and scallops, as part of the recommended 2–3 servings of fish per week ( 10 ).
Canned light tuna is the better, lower-mercury choice, according to the FDA and EPA. Canned white and yellowfin tuna are higher in mercury, but still okay to eat. Bigeye tuna should be avoided completely, but that species isn't used for canned tuna anyway.
John West Australia accounts for over 40% of the supply of canned tuna in Australia, most of which is sourced from the West Central Pacific Ocean.
More than 200 different species of seafood are imported into Australia, the most significant species groups being prawns, fish fillets, squid, octopus and tuna, which is mostly canned. Over half of imported fish by value are fresh, chilled or frozen, while approximately 40% arrives in cans.
Sirena made a public commitment in 2010 to source 100% of our tuna across all product ranges by using only a sustainable method for commercial tuna harvesting — Pole and Line Fishing.
Interesting to know: all the pole and line products (except Woolworths') are skipjack tuna, which is significantly lower in mercury than yellowfin (which Sirena is full of).
Coles Own Brand canned Skipjack and Yellowfin tuna are responsibly sourced which means the following conditions are met: Fish stocks: The fish stock where Coles Own Brand Skipjack and Yellowfin tuna are caught have been independently assessed as part of our Coles Responsibly Sourced Seafood Program.
Despite the data presented in this new report, the FDA says it stands by its recommendations of a maximum of 12 ounces a week of canned light tuna and 6 ounces of albacore. Six ounces is the equivalent of an average can of tuna.
Chunk Light Tuna in Water.
Exploiting migrant workers
Thailand is the world's top exporter of tuna, and one of the biggest exporters of all fish. Its marine fishing industry is particularly prone to modern slavery due to its size, lack of regulation, extent of illegal operations, and exploitation of migrant workers.
Tassal is Australia's biggest producer of premium quality Atlantic salmon and has been delivering delicious, fresh and healthy salmon from Tasmania's pristine waters to dining tables across Australia for over 25 years.
Is John West canned tuna healthy? Yes it is. It's packed with protein and is one of the healthiest canned fish you can eat. That's why making it a regular part of your diet is a good idea, especially if you want to give your body the benefit of some real protein power.