Safe Catch Tuna

Scanned March 2026 · food · high confidence

Safe Catch is doing a really good job with transparency and addressing specific issues. They're upfront about their mercury testing, which is a big health concern for tuna, and they've gone the extra mile to be certified Plastic Neutral and ensure safe fishing practices for dolphins and turtles. It's tough to be truly sustainable in the seafood world, but they're making genuine efforts.

How do the five signals break down?

Each signal is worth 20 points — the method is public at how we score.

What is on the label?

Primary claim: "Every Single Tuna Tested for Mercury" — a claim, not a certification. The difference is the whole game: see the cert guide.

What the claims cover

• Specific mercury testing (0.1 ppm limit) for every single tuna, addressing a major health concern.
• Certified Plastic Neutral, which means they're actively working to offset or remove plastic waste equal to their product's footprint.
• Dolphin Safe and Turtle Safe certifications, showing a commitment to reducing bycatch from fishing.
• Provides a website (safecatch.com) where you can learn more about their practices.

What is still missing

• Details on specific fishing methods (e.g., pole-and-line vs. purse seine) beyond just 'Dolphin Safe.' Companies sometimes keep this vague to maintain flexibility in sourcing.
• The exact origin or fishery of the tuna. Knowing this helps assess the health of local fish stocks, but it can be complex to track and disclose.
• A comprehensive carbon footprint report (Scope 1, 2, and 3). This is often the biggest environmental impact for seafood and the hardest to measure and share.
• Information about social responsibility in their supply chain, like fair labor practices for fishers and processing plant workers.

Where the footprint lives

Scope 1 — direct operations: Scope 1 refers to the greenhouse gases Safe Catch directly releases, like the fuel burned in their own processing plants or company vehicles.

Scope 2 — purchased energy: Scope 2 covers the emissions from the energy Safe Catch buys to run their facilities, such as electricity for refrigeration or canning operations.

Scope 3 — the supply chain: Scope 3 includes everything upstream and downstream, like the fuel used by fishing boats (which is often the biggest impact for seafood!), the materials for the cans and labels, and transportation. This is where most of the environmental footprint for tuna usually hides, and it's the trickiest for companies to track.

Most of a product's emissions sit upstream in Scope 3 — the scope breakdown explains why that decides the score.

Smart swaps and tips

• If you're curious, visit safecatch.com to see if they offer more details on their fishing practices or plastic neutrality program.
• Look for other certifications like MSC (Marine Stewardship Council) on seafood products for a broader view of overall fishery health.
• Remember that even with good efforts, tuna is a popular resource, so diversifying your protein sources can help reduce pressure on any single species.
• The metal can is a great choice for packaging as it's widely recyclable in many areas!

Numbers from a scan of the real label, March 2026. Holding this product — or its shelf neighbor? Scan it and compare the five signals side by side. New to the method? Start with the rules of thumb.