CR tested canned tuna from Bumble Bee, Chicken of the Sea, StarKist, and other popular brands. Heres our advice for pregnant people, and everyone else.
Cans of tuna are cheap, easy to find, and full of protein and omega-3 fatty acids that your body needs. They are a standard item in kitchens, delis, and school lunchboxes all over the country. A national survey (PDF) of 2,185 U.S. adults conducted by Consumer Reports in November 2022 found that about a third of Americans eat it twice a month or more. S. adults, and about 10 percent eat it at least once a week.
But mercury is found in a lot of fish, including tuna. Mercury can be harmful to adults, but it’s especially dangerous for kids, babies, and especially pregnant women.
CR checked five well-known brands of canned tuna for mercury because so many people eat it and because it might be harmful. These brands are Bumble Bee, Chicken of the Sea, StarKist, Safe Catch, and Wild Planet. We found a wide range in mercury levels between types of tuna as well as among different brands. Light and skipjack varieties, for instance, contain much less mercury on average than albacore tuna. (Note that the tuna in pouches is the same as the tuna in cans, but we didn’t test pouches.) ).
But CR’s food safety experts warn that pregnant women might be better off staying away from tuna altogether, based on our latest tests, our past work, and research from other groups. The reason for this is that while canned tuna, especially light types, usually has pretty low mercury levels, some cans can have much higher levels. As James E. says, “from can to can, mercury levels can rise in unpredictable ways that could put a fetus’ health at risk.” Rogers, PhD, director of Food Safety Research and Testing at CR.
We were able to find a number of options for adults and kids who eat canned tuna, even those who do so often. That’s important because most people don’t eat enough fish, which is good for your heart and brain.
Tuna is a popular canned fish eaten all around the world. StarKist is one of the biggest names in canned tuna. But some consumers question if StarKist tuna sourced from Senegal is safe to eat. Let’s look at the facts behind StarKist’s fishing and production practices.
Overview of StarKist’s Senegal Tuna
StarKist tuna comes from different oceans around the world. Some of their tuna comes from the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Senegal in western Africa.
The company uses various fishing methods to catch different tuna species like yellowfin, bigeye, and albacore. They work with local fishing vessels flying flags from Senegal, Taiwan, Panama, and other countries.
StarKist’s parent company Dongwon of South Korea owns a processing plant in Senegal. Tuna caught in the Atlantic gets shipped to this cannery before making its way to grocery stores.
Health and Safety Concerns
In recent years, StarKist has faced scrutiny over sustainability practices and transparency. There are worries their tuna may be unsafe due to:
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Mercury levels – Tuna contains traces of mercury Consumption should be limited, especially for sensitive groups Not knowing exact species or origins raises concerns.
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Processing violations – StarKist has been cited by the FDA for safety violations at their American Samoa cannery. This brings their overall food safety standards into question.
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Pollution and contaminants – StarKist has been accused of contributing to ocean pollution and oil spills from their fishing vessels. These practices can lead to contaminated fish.
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Overfishing and bycatch – Unsustainable fishing techniques deplete tuna populations and harm other marine life accidentally caught. This raises ethical concerns.
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Lack of transparency – StarKist does not reveal details on fishing locations, species, and catch methods. This makes it difficult to judge sustainability and safety.
Despite these concerns, StarKist states that all their tuna meets FDA requirements for safe mercury levels under 1 part per million (ppm). They say they follow strict testing policies to ensure the safety and quality of all their products.
Assessing the Validity of Safety Concerns
To make an informed decision, we need to dig deeper into these health and safety claims. Here are the facts:
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Mercury levels – Canned light tuna like skipjack has lower mercury levels, while albacore and yellowfin have more mercury. Even these remain below the FDA’s 1 ppm limit. Independent testing shows StarKist tuna falls safely under mercury thresholds.
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Processing violations – The FDA did find issues at one cannery, but StarKist took corrective actions. Their other facilities haveclean records, andfinished products pass safety tests.
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Pollution – StarKist maintains that they follow all environmental regulations. While accidents occur infrequently, their impact appears minimal. No associated safety issues have been identified.
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Overfishing – Tuna stocks are healthy in the Atlantic, but some questionable practices exist. StarKist is working towards more sustainable sourcing. Currently, their harvests do not threaten tuna populations.
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Lack of transparency – More information on exact sources would be ideal. But StarKist adheres to population assessments and catch limits by international fishery bodies. Their tuna comes from managed, regulated fisheries.
Overall, while StarKist should continue improving, their products meet FDA guidelines and pass independent safety tests. Current evidence does not suggest immediate health risks from consuming their tuna.
Making an Informed Decision About StarKist Tuna
Based on the available facts, StarKist tuna appears safe to eat in moderation as part of a balanced diet. Here are some tips for making an informed decision:
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Check labels for species and origin details where possible. Choose skipjack when you can, which is lower in mercury.
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Look for sustainably caught labels from bodies like the MSC, or brands that use only pole and line or troll fishing. These methods produce less bycatch.
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Alternate between tuna and other low-mercury fish like salmon, shrimp, and anchovies.
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Follow suggested serving guidelines, limiting light tuna to 2-3 servings per week and albacore to 1 serving.
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Balance tuna with plenty of low-mercury vegetables, fruits, legumes, whole grains, and plant-based proteins.
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Consider purchasing from brands with greater sustainability and transparency if this remains a priority. Or choose fresh, whole fish when feasible.
While StarKist still has room for improvement, their tuna likely poses minimal health risks if consumed in moderation as part of an overall healthy lifestyle and diet. But each person must weigh their individual factors and priorities to determine what is right for them.
StarKist’s Commitments to Improving Sustainability and Transparency
In light of concerns, StarKist has taken steps towards safer, more responsible tuna fishing and processing:
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They have committed to sourcing 100% of their branded tuna from fisheries using responsible harvesting methods that avoid overfishing.
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StarKist now publicly shares sourcing facts on their website so consumers can make informed decisions.
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They have strengthened monitoring programs to ensure compliance with fishing limits and prevent illegal practices.
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StarKist conducts traceability audits of their supply chains using third-party verifiers.
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They partner with groups like ISSF, WWF, and Greenpeace to develop solutions for more sustainable tuna.
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The company works to reduce bycatch, protect at-risk species, and minimize environmental impacts.
While work remains to be done, these initiatives show StarKist’s commitment to continuous improvement in sustainability and transparency.
The Bottom Line: Is StarKist Tuna from Senegal Safe to Eat?
Based on a careful analysis of the facts, StarKist tuna caught and processed in Senegal appears to meet FDA safety standards. Concerns about contamination and health hazards do not appear to be currently supported by scientific data.
However, individuals concerned about sustainability may still prefer to choose alternative brands that better align with their values. Moderation is also key, along with varying protein sources.
As with any seafood, applying the latest recommendations for safe consumption and making informed choices is advisable. But in general, StarKist tuna from Senegal is considered safe to enjoy as part of a healthy lifestyle.
What the Tuna Industry Says
We called all of the companies we tested and also heard from the National Fisheries Institute (NFI), a group that speaks for companies that make canned tuna. NFI told us that the amounts of mercury we found were much lower than what the FDA allows in canned tuna and that these foods are safe to eat. StarKist and Chicken of the Sea both said that their tuna meets this FDA limit for mercury.
Bumble Bee said that eating seafood has more health benefits than any possible risks, such as worries about mercury. ”.
We tested several types of light tuna and found that Wild Planet’s Skipjack Wild Tuna had the highest mercury levels of all of them. The company said they “had to make a choice between offering tuna with the very lowest possible mercury level or offering tuna from the best sustainable practice,” and they still have tunas with low mercury levels.
Safe Catch is one of the tuna brands we looked at, and its cans say that it has the “lowest mercury of any brand.” ”.
Mercury levels were pretty low in Safe Catch, but they were also low in most of the other light or skipjack tunas we tested. There weren’t many differences in average mercury levels between the Safe Catch cans we tested and those from most other brands. Similarly, Safe Catch’s albacore tuna had mercury levels that were similar to most of the other brands we tested. In fact, Bumble Bee’s albacore tuna had lower levels of mercury. Wild Albacore tuna from Safe Catch can cost up to $5, and Wild Elite light tuna can cost up to $3. 50, it costs less than $2 for light tuna and less than $3 for albacore from StarKist, Bumble Bee, and Chicken of the Sea. (Wild Planet’s skipjack and albacore costs up to about $3. 50 and $5. 60, respectively. ).
CR talked to Bryan Boches, CEO and founder of Safe Catch. He said, “We have tested over 6 million individual tuna, so we know that mercury levels in tuna vary widely regardless of catch method, size, or location.” He also said, “Safe Catch is the only brand that tests each individual tuna to a strict mercury limit before it is accepted.” ” No other brand in our test claims to test every tuna.
Albacore vs. Light Tuna
When CR tested 10 products, two types of tuna from each of the five brands were looked at: albacore, which comes from bigger tunas and costs more; and light tuna, which includes skipjack and comes from smaller tunas. CR tested three samples of each product, from different lots, for a total of 30 samples. All the tuna products came packed in water, which was drained before testing.
While these tests are only a snapshot of the market and don’t include all of it, they do show what people may be experiencing at this time when they eat these brands of tuna and stress how important it is for them to make safer choices every day.
One important thing to remember is that albacore has a lot more mercury than light or skipjack tuna, no matter what brand it is. Albacore tunas are bigger and live longer than light or skipjack tunas, so that doesn’t come as a surprise. The difference was pretty big, though. On average, the albacore products had three times more mercury than the others.
Scientists and seafood experts already know that albacore has more mercury than light tuna, but a new poll by CR suggests that most people may not know this. About half of Americans said they didn’t know that the mercury level in different kinds of canned tuna varies. And 18 percent said that they didn’t know that canned tuna has any mercury at all.
In our test, albacore had higher mercury levels than light tuna, but there was a lot of difference between brands. For example, the albacore tuna from Chicken of the Sea had 10 times more mercury than its light tuna. However, the albacore and skipjack tunas from Wild Planet had mercury levels that were very close to each other.
In our tests, none of the albacore tunas had levels low enough for an adult to eat three servings a week. Only the Bumble Bee Albacore had levels low enough for two servings a week. The rest of the albacore tunas had levels that mean you should only eat one serving a week, and kids shouldn’t eat albacore at all.
Our tests showed that all but one of the light tunas had levels low enough that CR’s experts believe that adults who are not pregnant could eat three 4-ounce servings of fish a week, and kids could eat two 1- to 4-ounce servings, depending on their age.
The exception: Wild Planet Skipjack Wild Tuna. In our tests, this light tuna had levels that were closer to those of albacore tuna, so you could only eat it once a week. (Note that the exact amount of tuna you can eat depends on your weight as well.) CR’s experts think these rules are a good starting point for everyone to use to keep track of how much mercury they’re taking in. ).
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FAQ
What is the safest canned tuna to eat?
Is StarKist tuna high in mercury?
Is StarKist tuna owned by China?
What is the StarKist tuna scandal?
Is StarKist Tuna safe to eat?
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. In general, Americans don’t eat enough seafood. Most of us eat 1 serving or less a week, and women who are pregnant eat even less.
Can eating a tuna fish sandwich lower your blood pressure if you take blood pressure medication?
Tuna fish when eaten with whole wheat bread can have a great health benefits. Tuna fish have high levels of omega-3 fatty acids which may help to reduce the level of omega-6 fatty acids and low density Lipoproteins cholesterol. Low density Lipoproteins cholesterol are one of the leading cause of high blood pressure, so eating food that will lower this type of cholesterol can help to reduce the risk of high blood pressure.
Does StarKist still sell canned tuna?
StarKist — owned by global seafood giant, Dongwon — has the largest market share of any canned tuna brand in the U.S. Scraping the bottom of the tuna guide for a second time, StarKist’s failure to take sustainability seriously is devastating the oceans — all while it continues to sell cheap and dirty tuna nationwide.
Is StarKist Tuna Dolphin Safe?
StarKist Tuna is labeled with a special “Dolphin-Safe” logo. StarKist’s dolphin-safe policy and “Dolphin Safe” logo reflect full compliance with the federal Dolphin Protection Consumer Information Act (“DPCIA”).