Best & Worst Canned Tuna, Salmon, Sardines & Mackerel

White Plains, NY, June 12, 2025 – High levels of mercury and/or arsenic were found in several popular brands of canned tuna and sardines recently tested by ConsumerLab.com.  In all, ConsumerLab tested 22 canned tuna, salmon, sardine, and mackerel products, checking them carefully for toxic heavy metals as well as for amounts of heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids (including DHA and EPA), which are often not listed on product labels.

Mercury and/or arsenic a problem in tuna, sardines

Arsenic, a toxic heavy metal and carcinogen, was particularly problematic in canned albacore tuna, with five out of six products found to contain more than 100 mcg of arsenic per 85-gram (about 1/3 cup) serving, and two of these products also contained significant amounts of mercury. One canned skipjack tuna, and three sardine products also contained more than 100 mcg of arsenic per 85-gram serving.  The findings suggest these products could exceed the state of California’s Prop 65 limit of 10 mcg of inorganic arsenic – the more toxic form of arsenic that constitutes about 10% of total arsenic in fish – per daily serving, above which a cancer warning label is required.

“The high levels of mercury and arsenic we found in some products suggests it might be best to avoid consuming them daily” said ConsumerLab's President, Tod Cooperman, M.D. “However, there’s also good news. We identified several canned tuna and sardines that contained significantly less arsenic, and little to no quantifiable mercury, and we found no problems with pink or sockeye salmon. Only one of the two canned mackerel products was found to contain arsenic, although it did not exceed ConsumerLab’s strict limits, and neither contained any quantifiable mercury.”

Omega-3s (DHA + EPA)

Amounts of beneficial omega-3 fatty acids (DHA and EPA) in canned fish ranged enormously — from as little as 119 mg in one canned tuna to more than 1,000 mg or even 2,000 mg in some sardines, mackerel, and salmon, based on an 85-gram serving of each. There was also a large range within the same type of fish, with DHA and EPA levels ranging by 7 times among albacore tunas, 2 times among sardines, and nearly 4 times among mackerel. ConsumerLab’s Dr. Cooperman commented “Most of the canned fish were able to provide at least 500 mg omega-3s -- the amount generally recommended to be consumed from fish or seafood at least twice a week.”

ConsumerLab’s Top Picks

ConsumerLab selected its Top Picks for canned tuna, salmon, sardines, and mackerel, each of which provides a significant amount of DHA and EPA with minimal mercury and arsenic contamination, at a good value.

Access the Full Report:

ConsumerLab’s full  Canned Tuna, Salmon, Sardines & Mackerel Review is online and accessible to ConsumerLab.com members – currently over 100,000 individual subscribers and thousands more with access through libraries, schools, and medical centers.

The report includes test results and comparisons for 22 canned fish products including tuna, salmon, sardines & mackerel that were selected for testing by ConsumerLab: Bumble Bee Solid White Albacore In Water, Chicken of the Sea Chunk White Albacore Tuna In Water, Fishwife Sardines With Preserved Lemon, Genova Yellowfin Tuna In Olive Oil, King Oscar Royal Fillets Mackerel In Olive Oil - Skinless & Boneless, King Oscar Wild Caught Sardines In Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Kirkland Signature Albacore Solid White Tuna In Water, Kirkland Signature [Costco] Pink Salmon - Boneless & Skinless, Safe Catch Wild Ahi Yellowfin Tuna, Safe Catch Wild Pacific Pink Salmon - Skinless & Boneless, Safe Catch Wild (Skipjack) Elite Pure Tuna, StarKist Chunk White Albacore Tuna In Water, Season Sardine Fillets in 100% Olive Oil, StarKist Solid White Albacore Tuna In Water, Trader Joe's Chunk Light Skipjack Tuna In Water, Trader Joe's Sockeye Salmon, Trader Joe's Wild Caught Sardines in Spring Water, Wild Planet Albacore Wild Tuna, Wild Planet Skipjack Wild Tuna, Wild Planet Wild Mackerel - Skinless & Boneless In Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Wild Planet Wild Pacific Sardines in Extra Virgin Olive Oil - Lightly Smoked, and Wild Planet Wild Sockeye Salmon - Skinless & Boneless.

A video that explains ConsumerLab’s findings and provides expert tips for selecting the best canned tuna, salmon, sardines, and mackerel is freely available on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok.

Founded in 1999, ConsumerLab.com is a leading provider of consumer information and independent evaluations of products that affect health and nutrition. It has reviewed over 7,000 products and has published Product Reviews covering nearly every popular category of dietary supplements and health foods.

Membership to ConsumerLab.com is available online and provides immediate access to continually updated reviews of nearly every popular type of dietary supplement and health food, answers to reader questions, and product recalls and warnings. ConsumerLab also provides independent product testing through its voluntary Quality Certification Program. The company is privately held and based in New York. It has no ownership from, or interest in, companies that manufacture, distribute, or sell consumer products.

Canned Tuna, Salmon, Sardines & Mackerel Tested by ConsumerLab