The choice comes down to personal preference: If you like a less “fishy” tuna experience, go for white tuna; if you want stronger flavor, light tuna is a better choice. Nutritionally, all three of these fish are pretty similar.
Nutritionally, the two styles are pretty identical, with only negligibly higher levels of mercury in white tuna. Both are okay to eat and their mercury levels are low enough that having multiple servings of canned tuna is advised (although it's best to limit intake for pregnant women and children).
1. Is canned tuna fish good for you? Yes, canned tuna is a healthful food rich in protein and contains many vitamins and minerals such as B-Complex vitamins, Vitamins A and D as well as iron, selenium and phosphorus. Tuna also contains healthy omega 3 essential fatty acids DHA and EPA.
Canned Tuna Species
Light canned tuna contains more dark flesh and typically comes from yellowfin tuna or skipjack. In contrast, canned white tuna fish is albacore tuna, which features light-colored flesh with a more delicate flavor. Both albacore and light tuna are available canned in water or oil.
While Solid White Albacore is packed with larger pieces, Chunk White Albacore Tuna is packed with smaller chunks that are still mild in flavor, firm in texture, and white in color. Finally, Chunk Light Tuna is sourced from a variety of smaller tuna fish.
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.
For tuna varieties, skipjack earns the Best Choice label from the FDA, while yellowfin and albacore receive the Good Choice label. The FDA suggests avoiding bigeye tuna, which has the highest levels of mercury. Before consuming canned tuna, it is best to consult with your doctor if you have any questions or concerns.
There are two main kinds of canned tuna: chunk light and solid or chunk white (albacore). Mercury levels in canned white tuna, which is exclusively albacore, are almost three times higher than those found in smaller skipjack tuna commonly used in canned light tuna products.
Light Tuna – There are a variety of fish that fall in the “light tuna” category. This tuna typically comes from either Skipjack or Yellowfin tuna. The meat is darker in color – somewhere between a light tan and tan-ish pink. It has a soft texture and is more flavorful than white meat tuna.
Canned light tuna is low in mercury and is considered one of the best choices for individuals that need to limit their exposure to mercury. People who are pregnant or breastfeeding can consume 2–3 servings of canned light tuna per week and children can consume 2 servings per week.
Canned light tuna is in the “Best Choices” category and it is fine to eat 2 to 3 servings per week. We recommend that you eat a variety of fish. You may wish to try other affordable fish in the “Best Choices” category such as canned salmon or sardines, frozen fish, or fresh fish that are at a reduced price.
Light Tuna can be a mix of a variety of smaller tuna species, most often skipjack, but may also include yellowfin, tongol, or big-eye. The best uses for solid or chunk light tuna are in tuna salads, pasta dishes, and casseroles, where the slightly stronger flavor shines through.
If you're concerned about limiting the amount of mercury you consume, and if you've eaten no other fish during the week, Consumer Reports says up to 12 ounces a week of Bumble Bee Chunk Light, Chicken of the Sea Chunk Light, Safe Catch Wild Elite, and StarKist Chunk Light tunas are the safer choices among the products ...
A. Canned salmon, tuna, sardines, kippered herring, and other types of fish are pretty much on a par with fresh fish. They give you as much heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids as fresh fish, and sometimes more. These essential oils help prevent potentially deadly heart rhythms.
Regardless if it's yellowfin, bigeye or bluefin, #1 tuna must exhibit high fat. The presence of fat will appear as marbling in the meat and near the skin. The texture will have a sticky feel to it and the color should be red, shiny and translucent. This is the best grade for all raw applications - sushi, crudo, etc.
We found that white-style tuna had significantly more total mercury (mean 0.407 ppm) than light-style tuna (mean 0.118 ppm), presumably reflecting that "white" tuna is albacore, a species relatively larger than the skipjack tuna, which is commonly available as "light" or "chunk light." The maximum mercury in a can was ...
"One big takeaway is that albacore has much more mercury than light or skipjack tuna, regardless of the brand," Consumer Reports said. "That's not surprising, since albacore is larger and lives longer than the tunas that make up the light tuna or skipjack tunas.
Mercury accumulates in your bloodstream over time and slowly leaves the body through urine, feces, and breast milk. If you eat a lot of fish high in mercury, it may take up to a year for your mercury levels to drop after you stop eating the fish.
If you're counting calories and maximizing omega-3 fatty acids, then tuna in water might make a great choice. On the other hand, if moisture, flavor, and vitamin D levels are your focus, then olive oil-packed tuna might be better. Whatever tuna you choose, it's important not to go overboard for this mild-flavored fish.
Cans, Jars, and Pouches
Generally, you'll find jarred tuna in all the same varieties as canned, although jarred tuna tends to be moister than many tins and comes in bigger pieces.