We Graded Every Canned Fish A–F. Every Single One Earned a B or Better.

Most of our report cards are an exposé. This one isn’t. Canned fish is the rare aisle where the health reputation is fully earned — we graded every sardine, tuna and salmon we could find, and every single one landed a B or better. These are protein and omega-3 powerhouses, shelf-stable and cheap, and the label barely has room to go wrong. The only thing separating them is what gets added on the way into the can: salt and sauce. The no-salt-added packs lead the pack, the heavier tomato-and-basil sauce trails it, and that narrow gap is the whole spread. So this report card is less ‘who failed’ and more a confident yes — go ahead and eat the canned fish.

The verdict

Every canned fish we graded landed B or better. Wild Planet No Salt Added Wild Sardines in Water led at B+ (83); the Brunswick Sardines in Tomato & Basil Sauce trailed at B- (72) — separated only by added salt and sauce, not the fish.

Top of the class B+ Wild Planet No Salt Added Wild Sardines in Water 83/100

Bottom of the class B- Brunswick Sardines in Tomato & Basil Sauce 72/100

The full report card — all 15 canned fish, ranked

#	Canned fish	Grade	Score	Weakest link
1	Wild Planet — No Salt Added Wild Sardines in Water	B+	83	fiber (30/100)
2	Bumble Bee — Solid White Albacore Tuna in Water	B+	82	fiber (30/100)
3	Safe Catch — Elite Wild Tuna	B+	82	fiber (30/100)
4	Wild Planet — Albacore Wild Tuna	B+	81	fiber (30/100)
5	Wild Planet — Wild Pink Salmon	B+	81	fiber (30/100)
6	Wild Planet — Wild Sardines in Extra Virgin Olive Oil	B+	81	fiber (30/100)
7	Bumble Bee — Chunk Light Tuna in Water	B+	80	fiber (30/100)
8	StarKist — Solid White Albacore Tuna in Water	B+	80	fiber (30/100)
9	Chicken Of The Sea — Chicken Of The Sea, Pink Salmon	B	79	fiber (30/100)
10	StarKist — Chunk Light Tuna In Water	B	79	fiber (30/100)
11	Beach Cliff — Sardines in Soybean Oil	B	78	fiber (30/100)
12	Bumble Bee — Premium Wild Pink Salmon	B	77	fiber (30/100)
13	King Oscar — Sardines in Pure Spring Water	B	76	fiber (30/100)
14	Season — Sardines in Olive Oil	B-	74	fiber (30/100)
15	Brunswick — Sardines in Tomato & Basil Sauce	B-	72	fiber (30/100)

Worth a closer look

The two ends of the list tell the story. Wild Planet No Salt Added Wild Sardines in Water tops the class at 83/100 (B+); Brunswick Sardines in Tomato & Basil Sauce anchors the bottom at 72/100 (B-). Click any product for its full fact sheet — the six dimension sub-scores, the per-serving label, and what would move its grade. Prefer to slice it yourself? Filter every graded product by the dimension you care about.

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How we graded these

Each product is scored on six dimensions — protein density, ingredient quality, added sugar, sodium, fiber, and saturated fat — combined into a 0–100 score and a letter grade. Every number comes from the product’s own label, verified against USDA FoodData Central. The grade is absolute (relative to all packaged foods), which is why a whole category can land in the same band. See the full methodology. Last graded 2026-06-04.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which canned fish scored highest?

The no-salt-added packs led — Wild Planet No Salt Added Wild Sardines in Water topped the list at B+, with Safe Catch Elite Wild Tuna and Wild Planet’s albacore and pink salmon right behind. See the ranked table above for the exact order and each one’s weakest dimension. The spread is tight, so even the bottom of this list is a solid pick.

Why did the tomato-and-basil sardines score lowest?

Brunswick Sardines in Tomato & Basil Sauce came last because the sauce adds sodium, and sodium is one of our six dimensions. The sardines themselves are excellent — it lost a few points on the sauce, not on protein or omega-3s. A clean example of how the grade is absolute, not a knock on the fish.

Is canned fish healthy?

Yes — this is one of the best aisles in the store. Sardines, tuna and salmon are loaded with protein and omega-3 fats, which is why every option here grades B or better. The only variable worth watching is added salt, and the no-salt-added packs score highest if you want the cleanest version.

How is the grade calculated?

Six dimensions — protein density, ingredient quality, added sugar, sodium, fiber, and saturated fat — into a 0–100 score and a letter grade, from each product’s own label, verified against USDA data. See our methodology page.