Just because you shouldn’t blindly buy the most expensive can of fish doesn’t mean you should do the opposite and load up on the cheapest can of seafood instead. Some companies sell canned fish with high traces of mercury, which poses potential health risks, especially for pregnant women. Furthermore, ocean conservation and preservation is a major issue for the canned seafood industry. There are canned fish options with a slightly higher price tag readily available on the shelves, which both offer higher quality fish and are sustainable.
In particular, Spain, France, and Portugal have a long history of canning seafood, with several canning companies approaching it from an artisanal lens. In Spain, the art of canning fish is a family business for some, where fish are arranged in a can by hand rather than by machine. This is to avoid the disintegration of the fish, which usually happens if it is done by machine. Also, these canned fish are cooked over charcoal before canning instead of being cooked in the tin which affects the taste, as is common industry practice. Finally, these high-quality seafood cans are packed with olive oil instead of cottonseed oil. Olive oil enhances the flavor of the fish, making for a more satisfying eating experience.
