We all want to make good, healthy choices about the food we eat and prepare for our families. While eating well can be fairly simple, there’s so much information out there about nutrition that can make things really confusing. One source of confusion is canned fish. In fact, there are so many misconceptions about it and whether or not it’s healthy, that we thought that it’s about time we cleared them up. Spoiler alert: canned fish is, indeed, healthy!

How is Fish Canned?

For a lot of people, the canning process seems to be a complete mystery and many believe that it requires chemicals or additives to preserve the fish. Let’s be clear, the canning process is actually exceedingly simple. We start with a piece of freshly caught fish, add salt, and seal it in the can. We then cook the fish in the can. That’s it! So, when you pick up a can of Gold Seal Salmon, what you’re getting in the can is wild salmon that’s been cooked once and has been sealed in the can with salt.

Preservatives and additives aren’t part of the process because they’re simply unnecessary! What preserves the fish is the can. Of course, we might add some fresh veggies, aromatic spices, or tasty oils to some of our products to achieve a specific flavour, but that information can be found on the label.

How Does Canned Compare to Fresh?

Next, let’s talk about freshness! Of course, you want to make sure that your family is eating healthful, nutrient-rich food. We can assure you that canned and fresh fish offer similar nutritional value. Studies have shown that canned salmon, for example, has comparable amounts of omega-3s as fresh salmon. Canned salmon has other merits, too. The soft bones in canned fish are also a source of calcium and eating just 3.5 ounces of canned salmon with the bones gives you the same amount of this valuable nutrient as drinking a glass of skim milk.

What About Skinless Boneless Canned Fish?

On to boneless skinless canned fish, like our newest Gold Seal Skinless Boneless Wild Pink Salmon! Fish that’s packed without the skin and bones is treated the same way as other fish during the canning process, we simply add the step of removing the skin and bones before sealing the fish. This makes skinless boneless canned fish a healthy option for anyone who prefers their fish without the skin and bones.

Your Next Trip to the Grocery Store

So, next time you’re at the grocery store, we recommend stocking up on Gold Seal products. Not only is it healthy and tasty, it’s also extremely versatile. In fact, you’ll find a mountain of great recipes that use canned fish, like Gold Seal Salmon and Mackerel, in the recipe section of our website. Enjoy!