The Worst Canned Tuna Comes From A Surprisingly Popular Brand

Canned tuna is a staple in many households, and for good reason. It’s packed with protein, easy to store, budget-friendly, and can be used in various dishes.

Whether you’re making tuna salad, sandwiches, or pasta dishes, this pantry essential is a go-to for quick, nutritious meals. However, not all canned tuna is created equal, and as one recent ranking revealed, some popular brands fall far short in quality.

In this article, we’ll explore how Chicken of the Sea, one of the most recognized canned fish brands in the U.S., surprisingly ranked as the worst among 14 tested brands. We’ll also explore why taste, texture, and quality matter when choosing your canned tuna.

Canned Tuna: A Pantry Essential

Canned tuna is popular because it can be used in many ways and is easy to store. It has lots of protein & healthy fats, so it’s a good choice for a healthy diet that doesn’t cost a lot. Plus, you can keep it in your pantry for a long time and use it when you don’t have fresh food.

However, selecting the right canned tuna can be tricky with many different brands and types, and packing liquids (water, oil, etc.) takes time and effort. To help consumers make the best choice, food writer Kyle Grace Mills from Chowhound recently conducted a taste test, evaluating 14 popular canned tuna brands based on taste, texture, and overall quality.

Chicken of the Sea Ranked Worst

Surprisingly, Chicken of the Sea, one of the most well-known canned tuna brands, landed at the bottom of the list. Specifically, the Chicken of the Sea 25% Less Sodium Chunk Light Tuna in Water was ranked the worst among the 14 brands tested.

Here’s why:

• Taste: Mills said the flavor was boring and not interesting, calling it “blah” overall.
• Texture: The texture of this canned tuna was another big letdown. Mills found it so dry that even adding mayonnaise—usually a reliable fix—wouldn’t save it.
• Appearance: The tuna didn’t taste good and didn’t look good either, which is important for people who want their food to look nice.

Despite being one of the more affordable options, Chicken of the Sea’s 25% Less Sodium Chunk Light Tuna in Water left much to be desired. This brand’s low-sodium offering might not be the best choice if you want quality.

What Makes a Good Canned Tuna?

Taste and texture are the top priorities when selecting canned tuna. High-quality canned tuna should have a fresh, slightly salty flavor with a firm yet flaky texture. It should also retain moisture, even if it’s packed in water. A dry or mushy texture is often a red flag that the tuna is of lower quality.

Ortiz White Tuna in Olive Oil, which topped Mills’ list as the best-canned tuna, exemplifies the opposite of what Chicken of the Sea’s low-sodium product offered. Ortiz’s tuna was praised for its rich flavor and smooth, tender texture—qualities that make it a standout in the canned tuna market.

Chicken of the Sea: Popular but Questionable Quality

Despite its poor ranking in Mills’ taste test, Chicken of the Sea remains one of the most recognized canned fish brands in the U.S. According to YouGov; the brand ranked 134th among the most popular food & snack brands in 2024, outperforming competitors like Bumble Bee and StarKist.

With over a century of history, Chicken of the Sea began in 1914 as Van Camp Seafood, later adopting the now-iconic brand name in the 1930s. Today, Chicken of the Sea is owned by Thai Union Group, one of the world’s largest seafood companies, and holds a significant share of the U.S. tuna market. In 2013, the brand was ranked first in U.S. tuna sales, with a market share of 19.3%, according to Atuna.

Should You Skip Chicken of the Sea?

While Chicken of the Sea enjoys widespread name recognition, its product quality has been scrutinized. In addition to its poor performance in Mills’ canned tuna ranking, the brand’s canned salmon could have been better.

The consensus is that, despite its popularity, Chicken of the Sea may not be the best option for consumers who prioritize taste and texture in their canned seafood.

Conclusion:

Think about buying canned tuna for quick meals. Choose a brand that tastes good and is high quality. Chicken of the Sea is easy to find & usually not expensive.

But their 25% Less Sodium Chunk Light Tuna in Water didn’t do well in a taste test. People didn’t like it because it was dry, didn’t taste good, and didn’t look nice.

For those looking for a superior product, consider trying Ortiz White Tuna in Olive Oil, which ranked as the best in the same taste test. It’s more expensive, but the rich flavor and tender texture may be worth the extra cost.

In the end, it’s better to focus on getting good quality instead of a low price to have a tastier meal with canned tuna.