Canned tuna in Australia is generally safe for everyone, including pregnant women, because it uses smaller, younger fish (like skipjack and yellowfin) with lower mercury levels than fresh fillets, though yellowfin has more than skipjack. Australian guidelines suggest 2-3 serves of low-mercury fish weekly, with canned tuna fitting in, but prioritize skipjack for young children and alternate with other low-mercury options like salmon and sardines for best nutrition.
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 ...
If you choose to eat more than 2-3 serves of fish per week it is important to eat a variety of fish, and avoid those that could have elevated mercury levels, such as Shark (Flake) or Billfish (Swordfish, Marlin).
Tuna, salmon, sardines, mackerel, mussels, oysters: The healthiest types of tinned fish.
Mercury levels in tuna vary according to the species, where it was caught, and its diet, so Dr Turner recommends looking out for skipjack. “It can contain half the level of mercury found in some other varieties of tuna,” he says.
To limit mercury intake from tuna, here are the guidelines: Best choice: Eat 2 to 3 servings per week of canned light skipjack tuna. Good choice: Eat 1 serving per week of yellowfin tuna or white albacore tuna. Choice to avoid: Don't eat bigeye tuna.
You would have to eat around 25 tins (at 95g a tin) of it a week before you hit the maximum tolerable intake of mercury. For pregnant people (or people trying to get pregnant), the limit would be around 12 tins (at 95g a tin) a week. It is unlikely many consumers will reach these limits.
Safe Catch is the ONLY brand mercury testing Every Tuna, Every Time. Lowest mercury of any brand, guaranteed. Always wild, sustainably caught. The best seafood nature has to offer.
Sirena Tuna is made with only the highest quality ingredients, including our premium oil blends and high specification tuna. Our commitment to sustainability is paramount to our business: 100% of our tuna is pole and line caught.
Yes. It is safe for everyone (including pregnant women) to consume canned tuna as part of their fish intake.
Most-contaminated fish species
Sharks, such as the mako shark, have very high levels of mercury. A study on New Jersey coastal fish indicated that one third of the sampled fish had levels of mercury above 0.5 parts per million, a level that could pose a human health concern for consumers who regularly eat this fish.
Australia offers fantastic fish like Barramundi, Coral Trout, Snapper, Flathead, and King George Whiting, prized for their firm texture and mild, sweet flavours, though taste is subjective and depends on location and preparation. Other favorites include Mahi Mahi, Spanish Mackerel, and Yellowtail Kingfish, while Atlantic Salmon (farmed) and Prawns are popular choices, with sustainability guides like GoodFish helping choose better options.
The unhealthiest fish to eat are typically large, predatory species high in mercury like shark, swordfish, king mackerel, and imported tilefish, plus bluefin tuna, which are dangerous for brain/nerve health, especially for pregnant women and children; also, farmed salmon and some imported tilapia/catfish raise concerns for contaminants and antibiotics, while orange roughy and Atlantic cod are often cited for high mercury and overfishing/sustainability issues.
Buy skipjack and yellowfin tunas labeled pole-caught, pole-and-line, troll-caught, or FAD-free from the Atlantic or Pacific. Avoid all bluefin tuna, except if you confirm it's Pacific bluefin tuna from a yellow-rated source (scroll down for more information). Avoid tuna caught in the Indian Ocean.
The concerns around daily intake stem from its mercury content. However, according to the NHS, which states a healthy, balanced diet should include at least two portions of fish a week, there's nothing there to say you can't eat tuna every day, unless you're trying for a baby, or pregnant.
Choose fish and shellfish that are lower in mercury such as salmon, trout, tilapia, cod, sole, sardines, shrimp, oysters, and other shellfish.
Some tuna cans that say do not drain because they don't add oil, water, fillers, preservatives, and GMO soy broth. Cans that say do not drain contain only tuna or sometimes salmon. They only have natural occurring fish oils and juices and those are rich in omega threes.
AKA: false albacore, albacore, little tuna, bonito, Fat Alberts. Description: Little tunny is a tuna-shaped fish that is steel blue on top and silver below with wavy stripes along the posterior portion of the back.
Sirena - Shop Ethical! Sirena was established in Australia in 1956 by Carlo Valmorbida and his family. Distributed by Valcorp Fine Foods until 2015, when Iconic Food Distribution took over. Valcorp, Sirena and Iconic Food Distribution are all controlled by the Valmorbida family.
The "best" tuna in Australia depends on your priority: for taste, Walker's Tuna (Australian-caught, olive oil) and Sirena (fillets, chilli) often win taste tests, while for sustainability, Fish 4 Ever, Safcol (pole & line), Little Tuna, and John West (check labels for MSC/pole & line) are highly rated by Greenpeace and CHOICE for responsible sourcing, avoiding endangered species like Bluefin.
Researchers from Chalmers University of Technology have come up with a novel approach to packaging canned tuna infused in the water-based solution of amino acid cysteine. It was shown to remove up to 35 percent of the accumulated mercury in canned tuna, significantly reducing human exposure to mercury via food.
Sirena tuna is considered good because of its premium quality, using pole-and-line caught yellowfin tuna, which results in a richer flavor, firm chunky texture, and lower mercury levels compared to other brands. Consumers praise its superior taste, often packed in quality oils or springwater, making it versatile for salads, sandwiches, and meals, despite being a pricier option.
Canned tuna is the only seafood in some people's diets. So that's why mercury contamination is such a concern in this particular fish. Mercury is a known neurotoxin. Too much of it is harmful to children, whose bodies and brains are still growing.
Risks of Eating Basa Fish
Basa fish is contaminated by pollutants and waste products such as mercury and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) from industrial sources. Consuming fish contaminated with these substances can lead to various health issues over time.
It is generally safe for everyone, including pregnant women, to consume two to three serves of tuna or salmon a week, canned or fresh.