Best Canned Tuna, Sardines & Seafood: Complete Brand Guide (Tonnino, Rio Mare, Season, Wild Planet, Bumble Bee, StarKist)

Finding the best canned tuna, sardines, or seafood brand is harder than it looks. The species, cut, packing medium, and fishing method all make a significant difference in taste, nutrition, and sustainability. We carry seven brands — Tonnino, Rio Mare, Season Brand, Wild Planet, Bumble Bee, StarKist, and Crown Prince — covering everything from premium artisan glass-jar tuna to ready-to-eat meals and smoked oysters. Here’s everything you need to know to choose the best canned tuna or seafood for your needs.

The Best Canned Tuna & Seafood Brands at a Glance

• Tonnino — Premium artisan tuna in glass jars. Hand-packed Yellowfin and Albacore in 10+ flavors. The top choice for quality and eating experience.
• Rio Mare — Italy’s best-selling tuna brand. Solid light tuna in olive oil. The everyday Italian pantry standard.
• Season Brand — The sardine and mackerel specialist. Wild caught, wide range of formats. Also carries herring (kipper snacks).
• Wild Planet — Sustainability-first brand. Non-GMO, pole & line caught, no added water or broth. Also carries pink salmon and ready-to-eat tuna salads.
• Bumble Bee — Mainstream American tuna. MSC certified, reliable quality, accessible price point.
• StarKist — America’s most recognized tuna brand. Wild caught, Kosher certified chunk light.
• Crown Prince — Specialty smoked oysters in olive oil. A unique pantry item for adventurous eaters.

Tonnino — The Best Canned Tuna for Quality & Flavor

Tonnino sets the standard for premium canned tuna. Every product is hand-packed in glass jars using whole fillets — never shredded or chunk-style. All Tonnino tuna is packed in high-quality olive oil.

Yellowfin Tuna (Ahi) — Flagship Line

Firmer texture, deeper flavor, higher omega-3 than Albacore. Available in an extensive flavor range:

• Yellowfin Fillets in Olive Oil — 6.7 oz — The classic. Pure, clean flavor.
• Yellowfin with Jalapeño — 6.7 oz — Mild heat, great for tacos and grain bowls.
• Yellowfin with Oregano — 6.7 oz — Mediterranean-style, ideal for pasta.
• Yellowfin with Garlic — 6.7 oz — Bold, savory. Excellent on bruschetta.
• Yellowfin with Lemon & Pepper — 6.7 oz — Bright and fresh.
• Yellowfin with Black Pepper — 6.3 oz
• Yellowfin with Spicy Thai Chili — 6.3 oz
• Yellowfin with Basil & Sundried Tomato — 6.3 oz
• Yellowfin with Olives & Sundried Tomato — 6.3 oz
• Yellowfin with Truffle — 6.3 oz — The luxury option.
• Yellowfin Solid Pack — 4.94 oz — Compact, ideal for on-the-go.

Ventresca — The Premium Cut

The belly of the tuna — fattiest, most tender, most flavorful. The highest-grade canned tuna in Italian and Spanish fine dining tradition:

• Yellowfin Ventresca in Olive Oil — 6.7 oz
• Yellowfin Ventresca in Olive Oil — 4 oz

Albacore Line

• Albacore in Olive Oil — 6.3 oz
• Albacore in Spring Water — 6.3 oz — Lower calorie option.
• Albacore with Herbs de Provence — 6.3 oz
• Albacore with Ginger Soy — 6.3 oz

Silver Salmon

• Silver Salmon — Dill & Garlic, 6.3 oz

Rio Mare — Italy’s Most Trusted Canned Tuna

Rio Mare is the best-selling canned tuna brand in Italy — solid light tuna in high-quality olive oil, tender and moist, ideal for pasta al tonno and tonno e fagioli.

• Rio Mare Solid Light Tuna in Olive Oil — 6 oz (160g)
• Rio Mare Solid Light Tuna in Olive Oil — 2.8 oz (80g) — Single-serve.

Best for: Pasta al tonno, salads, sandwiches, everyday Italian cooking.

Season Brand — Best Canned Sardines, Mackerel & Herring

Season Brand is the leading premium sardine brand in the US. All sardines are wild caught.

Sardines

• Sardines in Extra Virgin Olive Oil — 4.37 oz — Wild caught, Keto, Kosher.
• Sardine Fillets in Olive Oil, Skinless & Boneless — 4.375 oz — Best for sardine newcomers.
• Sardines in Water, No Salt Added — 4.375 oz
• Sardines in Water, Bone-In with Skin — 4.375 oz
• Sardines in 100% Olive Oil, Bone-In with Skin — 4.375 oz
• Sardines in Water — 4.375 oz
• Sardines in Tomato Sauce — 4.375 oz
• Sardines in Sunflower Oil — 4.375 oz
• Premium Brisling Sardines in Water, No Salt Added — 3.75 oz
• Premium Brisling Sardines in Water — 3.75 oz
• Premium Brisling Sardines in Tomato Sauce — 3.75 oz

Mackerel

• Grilled Mackerel in Olive Oil — 9.17 oz Glass Jar
• Mackerel in 100% Olive Oil — 4.375 oz
• Grilled Mackerel in 100% Olive Oil — 4.375 oz

Herring (Kipper Snacks)

• Kipper Snacks Peppered Boneless Herring Fillets — 3.25 oz — Cold-smoked, high omega-3.

Wild Planet — Best Canned Tuna for Sustainability

Wild Planet is the benchmark for sustainable canned tuna and seafood. Every product is pole & line caught, Non-GMO verified, with no added water, broth, or oil — just fish and sea salt. The fish is cooked only once inside the sealed can, retaining all natural juices. For external reference, MSC (Marine Stewardship Council) certification is the global gold standard for sustainable fishing — Wild Planet meets and exceeds this standard across its product range.

Canned Tuna

• Wild Planet Albacore Wild Tuna — 5 oz — The flagship. Non-GMO, no added water, sustainably caught. One of the highest-rated canned tuna products in the US.
• Wild Planet Albacore Wild Tuna Pouch — 3 oz — Convenient pouch format.
• Wild Planet Skipjack Solid Light Wild Tuna in Olive Oil — 2.82 oz — Lower mercury than Albacore.

Wild Pink Salmon

• Wild Planet Wild Pink Salmon, Skinless & Boneless — 6 oz — Very high omega-3, no added water.

Ready-to-Eat Tuna Salads

Wild Planet’s ready-to-eat salads are one of the most convenient high-protein meal options in the canned seafood category — no prep required, clean ingredients, no artificial preservatives.

• Wild Tuna & White Bean Salad — 5.6 oz
• Wild Tuna & Quinoa Salad — 5.6 oz
• Wild Tuna & Pasta Salad — 5.6 oz
• Wild Tuna, Bean & Corn Salad — 5.6 oz

Best for: Health-conscious shoppers, sustainability-focused buyers, high-protein meal prep, on-the-go lunches.

Bumble Bee — Reliable Everyday Canned Tuna

Bumble Bee is one of America’s most established canned tuna brands. MSC certified, wild caught, and gluten free.

• Chunk Light Tuna in Water — 5 oz — MSC Certified, Wild Caught, Gluten Free.
• Low Sodium Solid White Albacore in Water — 5 oz

StarKist — America’s Most Recognized Canned Tuna

StarKist is the most widely recognized canned tuna brand in the US. Wild caught, Kosher certified.

• Chunk Light Tuna in Water — 5 oz

Crown Prince — Smoked Oysters

Crown Prince smoked oysters packed in olive oil — rich, briny, and deeply savory. High in zinc, iron, and omega-3s.

• Crown Prince Smoked Oysters in Olive Oil, Fancy Whole

Best Canned Tuna & Seafood: Omega-3 Comparison

• Sardines (Season Brand): ~1,000–2,000 mg/serving. High calcium, vitamin D, B12. Lowest mercury.
• Wild Pink Salmon (Wild Planet): ~1,200–1,800 mg/serving. No added water, skinless & boneless.
• Mackerel (Season Brand): ~1,000–1,500 mg/serving. Very high B12 and selenium.
• Herring/Kipper (Season Brand): ~1,000–1,500 mg/serving. Bold smoky flavor.
• Smoked Oysters (Crown Prince): Moderate omega-3, very high zinc and iron.
• Albacore Tuna (Tonnino/Wild Planet/Bumble Bee): ~700–1,000 mg/serving.
• Skipjack Light Tuna (Wild Planet): ~400–600 mg/serving. Lower mercury than Albacore.
• Yellowfin Tuna (Tonnino): ~300–600 mg/serving. Higher protein per serving.
• Light Tuna (Rio Mare/StarKist/Bumble Bee): ~200–400 mg/serving. Best value for everyday use.

How to Choose the Best Canned Tuna or Seafood for Your Needs

• Maximum omega-3: Season Sardines in EVOO, Wild Planet Pink Salmon, or Season Mackerel
• Premium eating experience: Tonnino Ventresca or Yellowfin Truffle
• Everyday Italian cooking: Rio Mare Solid Light Tuna in Olive Oil
• Best canned tuna variety: Tonnino Yellowfin range (10+ flavors)
• Sustainability-first: Wild Planet (pole & line caught, Non-GMO, no added water)
• Ready-to-eat, no prep: Wild Planet Tuna Salad range (4 varieties)
• Budget-friendly: Bumble Bee or StarKist Chunk Light
• Low sodium: Bumble Bee Low Sodium Albacore or Season Sardines No Salt Added
• Kosher certified: StarKist Chunk Light or Season Sardines in EVOO
• Sardine newcomers: Season Skinless & Boneless Fillets in Olive Oil
• Something different: Crown Prince Smoked Oysters or Season Kipper Snacks

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Frequently Asked Questions About the Best Canned Tuna & Seafood

What is the best canned tuna brand overall?

The best canned tuna brand depends on your priorities. For premium quality and flavor, Tonnino (hand-packed Yellowfin and Albacore in glass jars) is the top choice. For sustainable fishing and clean ingredients, Wild Planet is the benchmark for best canned tuna. For everyday Italian-style cooking, Rio Mare is the gold standard. For budget-friendly options, Bumble Bee and StarKist offer reliable quality.

What is the healthiest canned fish?

Sardines are generally the healthiest canned fish — very high omega-3 (1,000–2,000 mg/serving), calcium from edible bones, vitamin D, and low mercury. Wild Planet Pink Salmon and Season Mackerel are also excellent. Among canned tuna, Wild Planet Albacore and Tonnino Yellowfin in olive oil offer the best omega-3 profile.

What is Ventresca tuna?

Ventresca is the belly cut of the tuna — the fattiest, most tender, and most flavorful part. It is the premium cut in Italian and Spanish canned fish traditions. Tonnino offers Ventresca Yellowfin in 4 oz and 6.7 oz glass jars.

What makes Wild Planet the best canned tuna for sustainability?

Wild Planet uses pole & line fishing to minimize bycatch, is Non-GMO verified, and adds no water, broth, or oil. The fish is cooked only once — inside the sealed can — retaining all natural juices and oils. This results in a richer, more flavorful product compared to conventionally processed canned tuna brands.

What are kipper snacks?

Kipper snacks are cold-smoked herring fillets — a traditional British and Northern European preserved fish. Season Brand Kipper Snacks are boneless herring fillets with peppered seasoning, high in omega-3s, protein, and B12.

Is canned tuna in olive oil healthier than tuna in water?

Olive oil-packed canned tuna retains more omega-3 fatty acids and adds heart-healthy monounsaturated fats. Water-packed tuna is lower in calories. For nutrition and flavor, olive oil is the better choice for the best canned tuna experience — unless you are strictly managing calorie intake.