by Amazon Tuna review
by Amazon Tuna Chunks in Spring Water
By Tom Calder
Own-label does this job perfectly well: MSC-certified skipjack tuna in spring water, with nothing to do but drain it. At 104 kcal a tin it's protein rather than a meal, so pair it with beans or crackers.
- Best for
- Budget pick: own-label tuna, no cooking needed.
- Skip it if
- You're pregnant or trying for a baby and would lean on tuna for protein
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Researched, not used. We haven't used this product. This review is built from the maker's specifications, owner reports and our own sizing.
What we like
- Own-label budget pick
- In spring water, not brine, as the NHS suggests
- MSC certified, and no heating needed
Worth knowing
- 104 kcal a tin: protein, not a meal
- The label warns it may contain bones
Out of stock when we checked: our alternatives
Closest in size first, then by our score. None of them was showing out of stock when we last checked.
Best for Calories you can eat cold, straight from the tin.
as of 2 Nov 2026, 16:07 GMT · Details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Best for Protein and oily fish with no cooking at all.
as of 2 Nov 2026, 16:07 GMT · Details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Best for Protein from a small tin that works in a sandwich or salad.
in stock when checkedas of 2 Nov 2026, 16:07 GMT · Details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.ⓘ As an Amazon Associate, PreparedBritain earns from qualifying purchases. We may earn a commission when you buy, or a fee when you request a quote, through our links. When two products are close, commission can decide which one we pick. A clearly better product always wins. Amazon prices come from Amazon's own product data and show the date and time they were retrieved. Prices at other retailers are checked by us, less often. Prices and stock can change at any time, so always check the retailer's price before you buy.
Our review
Own-label tuna chunks in spring water, eight 145g tins in two four-packs, are the cheapest protein on our tinned food list that needs no cooking at all. Drain, eat, done. A tin is about 100 kcal, so it is the protein in a meal rather than the meal. The NHS counts tuna as white fish, not oily, and sets a weekly limit for women who are pregnant or trying.
What a tin gives you
The pack is two sleeves of four 145g tins, with about 102g of fish once drained. The label's own panel works out at roughly 104 kcal a tin, which lines up with the supermarket own-label equivalents: Tesco's tuna chunks in spring water list 109 kcal per 100g and a similar drained weight. Tuna is nearly all protein and water, with very little fat and no sugar. The label carries an MSC mark and warns that the fish may contain bones, as tinned fish labels generally do.
Spring water rather than brine or oil matters in two ways. It keeps the salt down, which the NHS prefers, and it means the tin can be eaten straight without draining oil into the sink when the water is off.
What the MSC mark means
The blue Marine Stewardship Council label says the fish came from a wild fishery that was independently assessed against the MSC's standard: fish stocks are kept healthy, other sea life is cared for and the fishery is well managed. Fisheries must score at least 60 on every indicator and average 80, are audited every year and reassessed every five. The MSC is clear that its label covers environmental performance, not working conditions or carbon. It is a reasonable sign for a store-cupboard fish, not a guarantee of anything else.
Limits, and who should go easy
The NHS says fresh and canned tuna do not count as oily fish, because canning removes most of the oils, so this is not the tin that covers the one oily portion a week; sardines do that. For women who are pregnant or trying for a baby, the NHS limit is no more than four tins of tuna a week, because of mercury. No limit applies while breastfeeding. A tin at 100 kcal is lunch's protein only: pair it with a tin of beans, crackers or a pouch of rice to make a meal.
Once opened, treat it as fresh fish: move it out of the tin and eat it the same day if the fridge is off. Our power cut food safety guide covers what to keep and what to bin when the power has been off for hours.
How it compares
On the tinned food page, John West sardines in tomato sauce give almost twice the calories a tin, count as oily fish and have edible bones for calcium, but not everyone will eat them. Rio Mare tuna in olive oil is the better-tasting tin for a sandwich, in a smaller 80g size at a higher price per gram. Against both, the own-label chunks are the volume buy: eight tins, the lowest price per tin, a long best-before date and no cooking.
Our verdict
A sensible budget protein for a household that eats tuna now, bought by the eight. Skip it if you are pregnant or trying and would lean on tuna as your main protein, or if nobody at home eats it; mix the cupboard with sardines, beans and chickpeas instead. Our how much food to store guide helps with the balance.
A researched review, built from the maker's specs, manual and UK listings; facts checked 2 Nov 2026. Sources: NHS: Fish and shellfish, oily and white fish (read 2 November 2026); NHS: Foods to avoid in pregnancy, tuna limit; Marine Stewardship Council: what the blue MSC label means; Tesco: Tuna Chunks in Spring Water 145g, own-label nutrition for comparison.
Who shouldn't buy this
Don't buy it if you're pregnant or trying for a baby and would lean on tuna for protein: the NHS sets a weekly limit on tuna for you, so mix in other tins.
Key specs
| Type | Fish |
| Pack | 8 × 145g |
| Calories per tin | 104 kcal |
| Eat cold | Yes |
This is a Researched review: we haven't used this product. We check every specification against at least two independent sources, re-check the UK price on a schedule where we can track it automatically, and say plainly who it isn't for. Commissions never change a rating.
Questions
How many calories are in a 145g tin of tuna in spring water?
About 104 kcal a tin from the label's panel, with roughly 102g of drained fish. Tesco's own-label equivalent lists 109 kcal per 100g.
Does tinned tuna count as oily fish?
No. The NHS says fresh and canned tuna do not count as oily fish, because canning removes most of the oils. Tinned sardines, mackerel and salmon do count.
How much tinned tuna can I eat in pregnancy?
The NHS says no more than four cans a week if you are pregnant or trying for a baby, because of mercury. There is no limit while breastfeeding.
What does the MSC label on tuna mean?
That the fish came from a wild fishery independently assessed against the Marine Stewardship Council's standard for stock health, ocean impact and management. It does not cover working conditions or carbon.
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