Wild Planet Wild Pink Salmon: Nutrition & Labelgrade B+ (81/100)
B+ 81 / 100 — A two-ingredient, wild-caught lean protein: 18g for 90 calories, no saturated fat, no sugar. Only moderate sodium keeps it out of the A range.
🛒 Buy on Amazon →The short answer
Wild Planet Wild Pink Salmon delivers 18g of protein for 90 calories in a 3 oz (85g) serving — one of the leanest, cleanest shelf-stable proteins you can keep in a pantry. The ingredient list is two words long: wild pink salmon and sea salt. It earns a B+ (81/100), with perfect marks on saturated fat and sugar; the only thing keeping it out of the A range is moderate sodium.
What actually sets it apart
Most canned fish is a commodity, so the details matter. Wild Planet’s whole pitch is that the salmon is wild-caught Pacific pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha), not farmed, and the can backs it up: no broth, no added oil, no fillers to pad the weight. Because it’s packed in its own juices rather than topped up with water, the drained protein per can runs higher than many competitors that look similar on the front label.
Two things people overlook with canned salmon:
- The bones are a feature, not a flaw. They’re soft, edible, and a genuine source of calcium — the kind you throw away when you buy a fillet. You won’t notice them mashed into a salmon patty or salad.
- Pink is the value tier. It’s milder and cheaper than sockeye (“red”) salmon while delivering the same lean-protein, omega-3 profile. For protein-per-dollar, it’s one of the best buys in the aisle.
Why the B+
| Dimension | Grade | Score | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protein density | B+ | 82 / 100 | 21.2g per 100g — strong for a water-light canned fish |
| Ingredient quality | B+ | 80 / 100 | Two ingredients, zero additives — about as clean as a label gets |
| Saturated fat | A+ | 100 / 100 | 0g — naturally lean |
| Sugar | A+ | 100 / 100 | 0g, as expected for plain fish |
| Sodium | B- | 72 / 100 | 200mg per serving — moderate; the one real ding |
| Fiber | F | 30 / 100 | 0g, unavoidable for any pure animal protein |
The fiber “F” is structural — no animal protein has fiber, and the formula doesn’t pretend otherwise. The honest knock is sodium: 200mg is fine for most people but adds up if canned fish is a daily habit, which is exactly why the no-salt-added version exists.
Salmon or tuna?
This is the real decision most shoppers are making, so it’s worth being direct. Pink salmon and canned light tuna land in the same protein range, but they trade off differently: salmon brings meaningfully more omega-3 (EPA/DHA) and carries far less mercury risk than albacore tuna, so you can eat it more often without worrying about accumulation. Tuna is marginally leaner and usually a touch cheaper. If you rotate canned fish for the protein, alternating pink salmon with light (not albacore) tuna covers both the omega-3 and the budget angle.
Who it’s for
A near-perfect lean-protein pantry staple — 18g for 90 calories, nothing to wash off, nothing to apologize for on the ingredient line. Eat it straight with mustard and crackers, fold it into salads, or make salmon patties. The only shopper who should hesitate is someone on a strict low-sodium plan, who should reach for the no-salt-added can instead.
Ingredients
Wild pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) and sea salt. (Verbatim from the USDA Branded Foods entry, FDC 1857109.)
Where to buy
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Quick Facts
Per serving · 3 oz (85g)
Full nutrition facts
| Nutrient | Per Serving (3 oz (85g)) |
|---|---|
| Calories | 90.1 |
| Protein | 18g |
| Total Fat | 2g |
| Saturated Fat | 0g |
| Trans Fat | 0g |
| Total Carbohydrates | 0g |
| Dietary Fiber | 0g |
| Total Sugars | 0g |
| Added Sugars | 0g |
| Sodium | 200mg |
| Cholesterol | 29.8mg |
| Calcium | 0mg |
| Iron | 0.722mg |
| Potassium | 245mg |
Scope: This page applies specifically to Wild Pink Salmon (6 oz/170 g) · UPC 829696000473. Other sizes, flavors, or formulations may differ.
How this fits each diet
Each score is computed from the same USDA nutrition + ingredient data, against the published rules of each diet. They tell you "does this food fit this diet" — not whether the diet is right for you.
contains animal-derived ingredients
contains meat, fish, or gelatin
no wheat, barley, rye, or malt detected in USDA ingredient list
Frequently Asked Questions
How much protein is in Wild Planet Wild Pink Salmon?
18 grams per 3 oz (85g) serving, for just 90 calories — that's 21.2g of protein per 100g, or about 6g per ounce (USDA FDC 1857109). A full 6 oz can holds roughly 36g of protein.
Is canned salmon as good a protein source as fresh?
Yes — and arguably better value. Canning doesn't degrade the protein, and because Wild Planet packs the fish without added water or oil, the protein-per-ounce of the drained fish is high. You also get the soft, edible bones, which are a real source of calcium most people miss when they buy fillets.
Pink salmon vs sockeye (red) salmon — what's the difference?
Pink is the mildest and most affordable wild salmon; sockeye ('red') has a deeper color, richer flavor, and more fat (and a higher price). Nutritionally both are excellent lean proteins with omega-3s. Pink is the better protein-per-dollar pick.
Is it keto and Whole30 friendly?
Yes to both. Zero carbs, zero sugar, two clean ingredients (salmon and sea salt) with no additives — it passes a strict keto, paleo, and Whole30 screen.
How much sodium does it have?
200mg per serving — about 9% of the 2,300mg daily limit, or moderate. If you're watching sodium closely, Wild Planet also sells a no-salt-added version.
When was this data last verified?
2026-06-03, against USDA FoodData Central FDC 1857109. We re-verify top pages monthly and update within 7 days of a reformulation.