Which canned tuna has the lowest mercury levels?
What is the safest brand of canned tuna?
- Wild Planet Albacore Wild Tuna. …
- American Tuna. …
- Safe Catch Elite Pure Wild Tuna. …
- Ocean Naturals Skipjack Chunk Light Tuna in Water. …
- 365 Everyday Value Albacore Wild Tuna In Water. …
- Tonnino Tuna Fillets in Spring Water.
Which brand of tuna has the most mercury?
Yellowfin: Also referred to as ahi tuna, yellowfin tuna is higher in mercury than albacore or skipjack. It’s also high in omega-3 fatty acids. Skipjack: “Skipjack is the species most commonly used in canned tuna,” Rissetto said. “It is mainly sold as ‘canned light’ or ‘chunk light’ tuna, and it is also available fresh and frozen.
What is canned tuna has the lowest mercury levels?
We found:
- Every sample contained measurable levels of mercury, ranging from 0.018 to 0.774 parts per million. ...
- Samples of white tuna had 0.217 to 0.774 ppm of mercury and averaged 0.427 ppm. ...
- Samples of light tuna had 0.018 to 0.176 ppm and averaged 0.071 ppm. ...
How often should I eat tuna?
- Promotion of bone health – decreases the risk for hip fractures *
- Decreases in the risk of becoming overweight or obese *
- Decreases in the risk for colon and rectal cancers *
What brands of tuna are low mercury?
Safe Catch Elite Tuna, simply the lowest mercury tuna of any brand.
Which has less mercury tuna or albacore?
There are two main kinds of canned tuna: chunk light and solid or chunk white (albacore). All canned white tuna is albacore. Its mercury levels are almost three times higher than the smaller skipjack tuna, used in most canned light tuna products.
Which tuna has the most mercury?
Albacore tunaAlbacore tuna is a larger species and contains higher levels of mercury. Canned white albacore tuna typically contains about 0.32 parts per million of mercury. Canned light tuna contains about 0.12 parts per million of mercury.
Is there such a thing as mercury free tuna?
The Safe Catch brand features delicious tuna that has the additional bonus of being mercury-free. I'm on a low-sodium diet so I purchased the "no salt added," but the regular cans have very little salt. I highly recommend this brand to anyone who likes tuna.
Is chunk light tuna healthier than albacore?
But through it all, keep in mind that only albacore will do. Nutritionally, all types of canned tuna offer lean protein, omega-3 fats, selenium, and other important nutrients. While albacore tuna is slightly higher in fat and calories, the difference is minimal enough that it shouldn't deter you.
Is StarKist tuna low in mercury?
All StarKist Tuna is well below FDA's 1ppm. We follow a robust testing policy in all of our plants and can assure you that StarKist Tuna is safe to eat and falls well below FDA's stringent requirements.
What is the safest tuna to eat?
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.
Is chunk light tuna lower in mercury?
Chunk light tuna: “This is typically from yellowfin tuna or skipjack, meaning it's lower in calories and fat and therefore lower in omegas and lower in mercury,” Rissetto said.
Which brand of tuna is best?
Best Overall: Ortiz Bonito del Norte. ... Best Budget: Wild Planet Skipjack Wild Tuna. ... Best No Draining: American Tuna No Salt Added Wild Albacore Tuna. ... Best Pouched: Sea Fare Pacific Wild Albacore Tuna. ... Best Oil-Packed in Jars: Tonnino Tuna Ventresca in Olive Oil. ... Best Locally Sourced: CS Fishery Line-Caught Albacore.More items...•
Can you remove mercury from tuna?
But scientists say more tests are needed to confirm that. Cooking does not remove mercury from fish because the metal is bound to the meat. For example, a piece of tuna will have the same amount of mercury whether it is eaten raw as sushi or cooked on the grill.
Which canned fish has least mercury?
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.
Is Bumble Bee tuna mercury free?
Canned tuna meets all health and safety standards set by the FDA, which has established the maximum safe level of methyl mercury allowed in commercial seafood at 1.0 parts per million.
Turning Away From Tuna
As an undergraduate working towards a B.S. in chemistry, I spent 2 years working in a lab doing organic synthesis. The combination of being in college and working in a lab meant that both money and time were tight. So like many powerbuilders before me, I turned to canned tuna and MRP's to provide the bulk of my protein intake.
Heavy Metal
Before we dive into the mercury/tuna debate, a little background on mercury is necessary. Mercury, like zinc, iron, and Lead, is a heavy metal. But unlike zinc and iron, lead and mercury have no useful function in the human body.
Where Does It Go?
When you ingest mercury (via your daily can of tuna) it gets readily absorbed by the small intestine and shipped to the liver where it forms a complex with glutathione.
Mercury Messes With Your Mind
Remember how I said I had been eating 3 cans of tuna a day with no problems? Well... looking back on that summer a couple strange things did happen - like my training partner refusing to workout with me only 3 weeks into our training cycle.
Let's Talk Tuna
Now that we've laid the foundation for understanding mercury (and methylmercury) let's look at its relationship to tuna and tuna consumption.
Preventing Mercury Toxicity
Even with the science in our favor I think it is important to look at some ways that we can help our bodies deal with chronic consumption of mercury.
This Should Be Followed By Heavy Tuna Eaters
As stated at the beginning of the article the kidneys can do a good job of removing toxic mercury from the body and storing it in a safer form. The key is not to overwhelm your system. Don't decide one day that you are going to add tuna to your diet and start eating 1-2 cans a day.
Light tuna vs. white tuna
Albacore is America's favorite tuna, and it's the only species of fish that can be labeled as "white". Its meat is lighter in color and less flavorful than "light" tuna, which typically comes from skipjack and yellowfin. The "light" tuna meat is slightly darker and more pink, and is considered more flavorful.
Oil packed vs. water packed
Some brands carry both oil- and water-packed tuna, and sometimes just tuna and salt. It's really up to you to decide your preference. From a nutrition perspective, beware of tuna packed in soybean oil. If you're going to go for oil-packed tuna, olive oil packs more nutrients and is a better option.
What about mercury?
You should always be aware of mercury in seafood, especially if you're pregnant. Mercury consumed during pregnancy has been linked to developmental delays and brain damage. Mercury is a natural element in the environment but because of human activity, it ends up in our waterways.
How is the tuna caught?
The method of catching tuna is a big deal in the sustainability field. Pole and line fishing and trolling are two highly rated methods that make sure other species don't get caught in the mix. Poll and line means exactly what you think fishing means: one person with a pole. Trolling uses a boat with a few poles.
How to pick the best canned tuna
Tuna is an inexpensive protein that's shelf stable. It's a good source of omega-3 fatty acids, especially EPA and DHA, which are important for heart, brain, and eye health. Albacore and bluefin tuna have the highest levels of omega-3s followed by skipjack and yellowfin. Here are some things to look out for when picking up canned tuna:
The healthiest canned tuna you can buy
You get what you see—and more! Rated as best sustainable option by Greenpeace, Wild Planet has a robust sustainability policy. Every product is poll and line or troll caught, meaning there is less unintentional negative impact on other marine life. Wild Planet also submits their products to third party mercury testing.
The worst canned tuna you can buy
Bumble Bee calls their products 'preferred by customers when compared to Starkist' and a variety of other brands. But can we talk about tuna in soybean oil? While the ingredients are simple, there's no need for adding soybean oil to tuna alongside vegetable broth and sea salt.
What Is Mercury?
So, we know that mercury isn't exactly good for you. But before we get into why, let's begin by answering the question, what is mercury?
Why Is Mercury Bad For Us?
The concern around mercury toxicity is not solely limited to just developing nations — the effects are far-reaching and relevant for all people around the globe.
How Can You Avoid Eating Too Much Mercury?
In general, a good rule of thumb when it comes to mercury content is to consider the size of the fish. Smaller fish such as salmon, scallops, sardines and shrimp contain less mercury than their larger predators such as bigeye tuna and swordfish.