About the Tuna Council
The National Fisheries Institutes Tuna Council represents the largest processors and household names for canned and pouch tuna in the U.S. including Bumble Bee, Chicken of the Sea and StarKist. The Tuna Council speaks for the tuna industry on numerous issues including food safety, labeling, sustainability, nutrition education and product marketing.
Tuna Conservation and Sustainability
More than ever, the tuna industry is vested in managing tuna stocks to ensure tuna for generations to come. The U.S. tuna companies work closely with the international conservation organization, the International Seafood Sustainbility Foundation and its partners WWF and ocean scientists from around the world to ensure the long-term health of tuna stocks, particularly those used in canned tuna, while protecting our oceans and minimizing the impact of fishing on other marine animals.
Canned and pouched tuna comes almost exclusively from two species of tuna skipjack and albacore. Approximately 70% of the canned and pouched tuna Americans enjoy is skipjack or some small amount of yellowfin, otherwise known as light tuna on store shelves. About 30% is albacore – otherwise known as white tuna. Skipjack tuna stocks source of 60% of the global annual tuna catch, are considered by scientists and industry experts to be healthy and sustainability fished worldwide.
Canned tuna is considered by many to be a powerhouse food because it is rich in protein, low in fat and calories and is an excellent source of the essential omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA, proven to help maintain a healthy heart. In fact, the U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the American Heart Association recommend eating fish two times a week as part of a heart healthy diet.
Tuna During Pregnancy
The U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans also encourage pregnant and breastfeeding women to increase the amount of fish they eat to at least two meals a week to help build their babies brain, eyes and spinal cord. There are only four rarely eaten fish to avoid and tuna is not one of them. Mercury is not a concern for pregnant and breastfeeding women unless you are eating fish caught recreationally by friends and family, in which case you should check local pollution advisories. Most American women eat fish purchased from their grocer.