Opening a can of tuna should be simple – crack it open, drain it, and make a sandwich. But some brands turn this basic task into a disappointing mess. Recent taste tests reveal shocking differences between canned tuna brands, with some being so bad they’re practically inedible. The worst offenders taste more like wet cardboard than fish, while others pack such an overwhelming fishy punch that even cats would turn their noses up. Here’s what happens when tuna companies get it completely wrong.
StarKist delivers the most disgusting experience
StarKist might be one of the biggest names in canned tuna, but their product is absolutely terrible. Multiple taste tests consistently rank StarKist at the very bottom, and for good reason. The fish comes out looking like gray mush, and the smell hits like a punch to the face – not the clean ocean scent people expect from tuna, but something closer to old fish bait sitting in the sun.
The texture makes everything worse. Professional tasters describe it as mushy and completely falling apart when touched with a fork. One food expert couldn’t even finish a single bite, comparing the smell to a fish cleaning station. The overwhelming fishy taste isn’t the good kind – it’s the kind that makes people wonder if the can went bad, even when it’s fresh off the store shelf.
Blue Harbor tastes like absolutely nothing
While StarKist assaults the senses with too much bad fish taste, Blue Harbor goes the opposite direction and offers virtually no taste at all. Opening a can feels like getting a container of wet sand instead of actual fish. The tuna looks pale and lifeless, sitting in its liquid like something that gave up trying to be food. Even people who prefer mild fish find this brand disappointingly bland.
The texture problems make Blue Harbor even worse than its lack of taste suggests. Taste testers describe it as gritty, like eating dampened sandpaper mixed with fish scraps. No amount of mayonnaise, seasoning, or other ingredients can salvage this mess. People end up throwing away their sandwiches because even mixed with other strong ingredients, Blue Harbor still manages to make everything taste like nothing.
Chicken of the Sea fails its own name
Remember the old joke about Chicken of the Sea confusing people about whether it’s chicken or fish? After tasting it, people wish it actually was chicken. This brand consistently ranks among the worst options available, delivering tuna that’s bone dry despite being packed in water. The irony is thick – a product named after the sea tastes like all the ocean was drained out of it before canning.
The problems start the moment the can opens. Instead of neat chunks of fish, Chicken of the Sea often looks like pink bits swimming in a pool of murky water. The fish falls apart immediately when touched, and eating it feels like chewing on dried-out cotton balls. Even when mixed into tuna salad with plenty of mayonnaise, the dry, flavorless chunks stick out like little bits of disappointment in every bite.
Trader Joe’s tuna lacks any real personality
Trader Joe’s usually gets things right, but their canned tuna is surprisingly mediocre. The store known for unique and tasty products somehow managed to create one of the most forgettable tunas on the market. Opening their cans reveals fish that looks acceptable but tastes like someone forgot to add any actual tuna essence. It’s like eating the idea of tuna rather than the real thing.
The texture issues make Trader Joe’s tuna even more disappointing. Food reviewers consistently note that it breaks down too easily, turning into tiny shreds instead of maintaining any structure. The metallic aftertaste doesn’t help either – it leaves people wondering if they’re tasting the fish or the can itself. For a store that prides itself on quality, this tuna feels like a major oversight.
Good & Gather creates tuna salad disasters
Target’s house brand sounds promising – after all, who doesn’t want good ingredients gathered together? Unfortunately, Good & Gather’s tuna gathering resulted in a product that ruins lunch plans. The fish comes out overly salty and mushy, creating an unpleasant eating experience that makes people question their grocery shopping choices. The salt level is so intense it overpowers everything else in the can.
Making tuna salad with Good & Gather becomes an exercise in frustration. The fish breaks apart into tiny pieces that don’t hold together well, and the excessive saltiness means adding mayonnaise just creates salty mush instead of improving anything. Professional taste tests reveal that people consistently describe this brand as having an acidic, bitter finish that lingers unpleasantly. Even budget-conscious shoppers usually regret choosing this option over spending a bit more for something edible.
Great Value proves cheap isn’t always worth it
Walmart’s Great Value brand usually offers decent quality for the price, but their tuna breaks that pattern in the worst way. The fish comes out stringy and weird, like someone shredded chicken instead of providing proper tuna chunks. The texture alone makes sandwiches unappetizing, but the bland, almost flavorless profile makes the whole experience feel like eating textured water with a slight fish hint.
The stringy texture creates problems beyond just taste. When making tuna melts or casseroles, Great Value tuna doesn’t integrate well with other ingredients. Instead of adding protein and fish essence to dishes, it adds weird stringy bits that taste testers compare to overcooked shredded chicken. The lack of any real tuna character means recipes that depend on fish taste end up tasting like whatever other ingredients are added, making the tuna essentially pointless.
Safe Catch promises more than it delivers
Safe Catch markets itself as premium tuna with the lowest mercury levels and sustainable fishing practices. The price reflects these claims – it costs significantly more than regular grocery store brands. However, the actual eating experience doesn’t justify the extra expense. The fish tastes metallic and overly salty, with an unpleasant aftertaste that lingers long after finishing a bite. Premium prices should deliver premium taste, but this doesn’t.
The texture problems make Safe Catch even more disappointing given its price point. While it’s not as mushy as some cheaper brands, it still falls apart too easily and has an odd, slightly rubbery consistency. Taste comparisons show that people consistently find the metallic notes overwhelming, making it difficult to use in recipes where tuna should shine. Paying extra money for worse-tasting fish feels particularly frustrating when plenty of cheaper options taste better.
Bumble Bee creates sawdust sandwiches
Bumble Bee used to be a trusted name in canned fish, but their current products consistently disappoint. The tuna comes out looking like square chunks, which seems promising until actually eating it. The fish is incredibly dry, sucking all the moisture out of sandwiches and making every bite feel like chewing sawdust. Even when packed in water, somehow all that liquid doesn’t translate into moist, edible fish.
The dry texture makes Bumble Bee particularly problematic for recipes that depend on moist tuna. Pasta salads become exercises in adding extra dressing just to make the fish edible, and tuna melts require extra cheese or sauce to compensate. Food experts describe the taste as having sawdust-like notes that complement the dry texture perfectly – and not in a good way. The combination makes people wonder if they accidentally bought pet food instead of human food.
These brands ruin simple tuna recipes
Bad canned tuna doesn’t just taste awful on its own – it actively ruins recipes that should be simple and satisfying. Tuna salad becomes a mushy, flavorless mess when made with inferior brands. The fish either falls apart completely or stays in unappetizing chunks that don’t mix well with mayonnaise and other ingredients. Even classic tuna melts become disappointing when the fish tastes like metal or cardboard.
The worst part about these terrible tuna brands is how they make people think they don’t like tuna at all. Kids who try bad canned tuna often refuse to eat it again, missing out on a convenient protein source because their first experience was so awful. Multiple taste tests show dramatic differences between good and bad canned tuna, proving that the fish itself isn’t the problem – it’s how some companies process and package it. Choosing better brands transforms tuna from a disappointing pantry staple into something actually worth eating.
The difference between good and terrible canned tuna is shockingly dramatic. While premium brands deliver moist, flavorful fish that enhances recipes, the worst options turn simple lunches into disappointing experiences. Spending an extra dollar or two per can transforms tuna from something people endure into something they actually enjoy eating. Life’s too short to waste meals on tuna that tastes like wet cardboard or smells like old bait.
