Private Label Canned Tuna Brands Rank Among Most, Least Ethical

In its latest sustainability ranking of well-known canned tuna brands, Washington, D.C.-based Greenpeace placed eight retailers' private label products among the 14 overall brands. The ranking was based on how “sustainable, ethical and fair the brands’ tuna products are for the oceans — and for the workers that help get the products to store shelves.”

According to Greenpeace, the retailer rankings include:

• No. 4: Whole Foods Market — “Any 365 [Everyday Value] tuna choice is a better one at this supermarket, but transparency could be improved.”
• No. 5: Hy-Vee — “Some good choices available, but watch out for products not labeled with ‘pole and line’ or ‘pole and troll.’”
• No. 6: Trader Joe’s — “Good option to save some turtles and sharks, but more attention needed to ensure products are green across the board.”
• No. 7.: Safeway Inc. — “Good options available, but a lack of a public policy leaves consumers with questions.”
• No. 8: Costco Wholesale Corp. — “If you’re shopping for Costco tuna, make sure it’s only for Kirkland Signature skipjack.”
• No. 9: Target Corp. — “Simply Balanced is the only safe bet; avoid the rest.”
• No. 10: Walmart — “Great Value is anything but great for sharks and turtles; don’t buy this brand if you are an ocean-lover.”
• No. 13: Kroger — “The contents of this brand [are] an unsolved mystery; avoid at all cost.”

National brands to make the list were Wild Planet, American Tuna, Ocean Naturals, Chicken of the Sea, Bumble Bee and StarKist, which placed at Nos. 1, 2, 3, 11, 12 and 14, respectively, Greenpeace said.