Canned tuna is judged on whether it tastes fresh and meaty rather than mushy and fishy, and increasingly on how it was caught. We scored the leaders on taste, texture, value, and sustainability. Our top pick is Wild Planet, with an SR Score of 88, for firm, meaty, sustainably caught tuna that is not overly fishy. For rich tuna packed in olive oil, Genova (87) is the runner-up.
The ranking
| Rank | Brand | Best for | Style | SR Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wild Planet | Sustainable + meaty | Pole-caught, water | 88 |
| 2 | Genova | Olive-oil richness | Yellowfin, olive oil | 87 |
| 3 | American Tuna | Premium sustainable | Pole-caught | 88 |
| 4 | Bumble Bee | Mainstream quality | Albacore/chunk light | 82 |
| 5 | StarKist | Everyday convenience | Chunk light | 79 |
| 6 | Great Value | Best budget | Chunk light | 80 |
| 7 | Safe Catch | Low-mercury | Tested wild | 83 |
Methodology
The Taste Score v2026 rubric weights five criteria summing to 100:
- Taste & freshness (30) — clean tuna flavor, not overly fishy.
- Texture & meatiness (25) — firm flakes vs. mush.
- Value for money (20) — price per can.
- Sustainability & sourcing (15) — catch method, certifications.
- Reputation & reviews (10) — neutral tests (The Kitchn, Sporked, The Takeout).
Taste and texture split 55 because that is what you taste on the fork. Sustainability carries 15 to reward responsible sourcing. Re-weight toward price and Great Value climbs; toward low mercury and Safe Catch gains.
Wild Planet
The sustainable leader. Wild Planet Skipjack is recommended for firm, meaty, not-overly-fishy tuna, caught by pole-and-line methods with low bycatch. The best blend of taste and responsible sourcing.
| Criterion | Score |
|---|---|
| Taste & freshness | 27/30 |
| Texture & meatiness | 23/25 |
| Value for money | 15/20 |
| Sustainability & sourcing | 15/15 |
| Reputation & reviews | 8/10 |
Typical price: ~$3-4 per can. Trade-off: a touch salty for some, and pricier than mass-market cans.
Genova
The olive-oil pick. Genova’s yellowfin and albacore packed in olive oil are rich, moist, and flavorful, a clear step up from water-packed light tuna. Mediterranean-style quality.
| Criterion | Score |
|---|---|
| Taste & freshness | 28/30 |
| Texture & meatiness | 22/25 |
| Value for money | 16/20 |
| Sustainability & sourcing | 13/15 |
| Reputation & reviews | 8/10 |
Typical price: ~$2-3 per can. Trade-off: the olive oil adds calories and is not for those wanting lean tuna.
American Tuna
The premium sustainable pick. American Tuna with Sea Salt scored a perfect 10/10 in one taste test, pole-caught off the U.S. coast with excellent firm texture. A small-batch standout.
| Criterion | Score |
|---|---|
| Taste & freshness | 28/30 |
| Texture & meatiness | 24/25 |
| Value for money | 12/20 |
| Sustainability & sourcing | 15/15 |
| Reputation & reviews | 7/10 |
Typical price: ~$5-7 per can. Trade-off: the priciest can here and harder to find in stores.
Bumble Bee
The mainstream quality pick. Bumble Bee scored above lower-ranked brands for a lighter, fresher flavor, with solid white albacore and chunk light options. A dependable supermarket choice.
| Criterion | Score |
|---|---|
| Taste & freshness | 24/30 |
| Texture & meatiness | 21/25 |
| Value for money | 17/20 |
| Sustainability & sourcing | 10/15 |
| Reputation & reviews | 7/10 |
Typical price: ~$1.50-2.50 per can. Trade-off: sourcing transparency trails the sustainable specialists.
StarKist
The everyday convenience pick. StarKist is everywhere and cheap, with handy pouches, but taste tests flagged its chunk light as fishy and mushy. Best for convenience, not flavor.
| Criterion | Score |
|---|---|
| Taste & freshness | 20/30 |
| Texture & meatiness | 18/25 |
| Value for money | 18/20 |
| Sustainability & sourcing | 9/15 |
| Reputation & reviews | 6/10 |
Typical price: ~$1-2 per can/pouch. Trade-off: underwhelmed taste-testers on flavor and texture.
Great Value
The best budget pick. Walmart’s Great Value tuna has chunky, tender meat with the right salt level and surprisingly good flavor at the lowest price. The smart-shopper choice.
| Criterion | Score |
|---|---|
| Taste & freshness | 23/30 |
| Texture & meatiness | 21/25 |
| Value for money | 20/20 |
| Sustainability & sourcing | 8/15 |
| Reputation & reviews | 6/10 |
Typical price: ~$0.80-1.50 per can. Trade-off: minimal sourcing info and quality varies by lot.
Safe Catch
The low-mercury pick. Safe Catch tests every fish for mercury and targets the lowest levels, with a firm wild tuna. Best for frequent eaters, kids, and pregnancy.
| Criterion | Score |
|---|---|
| Taste & freshness | 24/30 |
| Texture & meatiness | 22/25 |
| Value for money | 13/20 |
| Sustainability & sourcing | 13/15 |
| Reputation & reviews | 7/10 |
Typical price: ~$3-4 per can. Trade-off: premium price and a leaner, milder taste.
Verification
- Wild Planet — pole-caught, firm meaty texture verified via Sporked and wildplanetfoods.com.
- Genova — olive-oil-packed yellowfin verified via The Kitchn and genovaseafood.com.
- American Tuna — 10/10 score, pole-caught verified via Daring Kitchen and americantuna.com.
- Bumble Bee — fresher flavor vs. low ranks verified via The Takeout and bumblebee.com.
- StarKist — fishy/mushy chunk-light criticism verified via Sporked and starkist.com.
- Great Value — budget value, tender meat verified via The Kitchn and Walmart listings.
- Safe Catch — mercury-tested wild tuna verified on safecatch.com.
Related rankings
- Best Honey Brands 2026: 7 Jars Scored
- Best Mac and Cheese Brands 2026: 7 Boxes Scored
- Best Maple Syrup Brands 2026: 7 Bottles Scored
- Best Olive Oils 2026: 7 Extra-Virgin Picks Scored
Frequently asked questions
- What is the best canned tuna brand in 2026?
- Wild Planet is our top pick for firm, meaty, sustainably caught tuna that is not overly fishy. Genova is the runner-up for rich olive-oil-packed tuna, and Great Value is the best budget option.
- Is tuna in oil or water better?
- Oil-packed tuna (like Genova) is richer, moister, and more flavorful; water-packed is leaner and lets you control added fat. For sandwiches and salads, oil-packed tastes best; for calorie control, choose water-packed.
- What is the most sustainable canned tuna?
- Pole-and-line or troll-caught brands rate highest. Wild Planet uses pole-and-line and similar low-bycatch methods and is frequently cited as a top sustainable choice; check labels for catch method and MSC certification.
- Why does some canned tuna taste fishy?
- Lower-grade, mass-processed tuna and softer light tuna can taste more fishy or mushy. Solid or chunk albacore and premium brands tend to be firmer and milder; very cheap cans often have an overwhelming fishy note.