Canned Tuna is the second most popular seafood product in the U.S. after shrimp. Although it doesn’t have as many omega-3s fats as salmon or sardines, tuna is still considered a fatty fish, and a serving of tuna does provide some healthy omegs-3s.

Just like salmon, the source of the food is everything. The big companies, with the household names, cook their fish twice, first baking them on a rack, which results in the loss of much of the beneficial oils. Then they debone it, can it, stick in flavorings and additives, and cook it again. Canned tuna from big commercial companies typically has less than a half a gram of omega-3s, if that.

Small specialty companies usually pack their fish in the can raw and cook them only once, so you’re more likely to be eating the natural fats and juices. The small specialty companies are often family owned and catch their tuna in the Pacific by hook. As soon as it’s caught, the tuna is brought aboard the boat and fresh-frozen. The large commercial companies typically fish for tuna is the Atlantic using “long lines”, which are harvested only once a day!

Then there’s the issue of water packed versus oil packed. Many people avoid the oil packed, because of a fear of fat, but the oil packed is more likely to retain at least some of the omega-3s, that is unless you drain it.

I would suggest seeking out the small specialty companies that produce a better quality product like gourmet or premium canned Pacific tuna in the first place. I purchase all my tuna, along with all kinds of other seafood, from a wonderful company called Tuna Guys, based out of Gig Harbor, Washington. Check out their website www.tunaguys.net.