Step 1: First tiny taste
Offer a small taste of drained mashed or finely flaked canned light tuna. Watch for concerning symptoms such as hives, swelling, vomiting, or breathing trouble, and seek urgent care if those occur.
Canned Light Tuna
Overview
Canned light tuna is a fish and a priority allergen. Fish can be introduced with other complementary foods around 6 months. Offer well-flaked canned light tuna as a single new food. If your baby has severe eczema or a prior immediate food allergy, talk with a clinician before introducing highly allergenic foods.
Preparation
Choose plain canned light tuna in water without added salt when possible. Drain well. Check for bones, then mash or flake into small pieces until soft enough to swallow. Do not offer large firm chunks. Always supervise eating.
Three-step introduction
Step 2: Larger offer
If the first taste was tolerated, gradually offer a larger amount of the same preparation at a later feed.
Step 3: Include regularly
If tolerated, keep this food in the diet routinely as part of complementary feeding.
FAQ
When are babies usually ready for solid foods?
Complementary foods are typically introduced around 6 months of age, when the baby shows developmental readiness (for example, sitting with support, good head control, and swallowing food rather than pushing it out). Introducing solids before 4 months is not recommended.
When can canned light tuna be introduced?
Once your baby is ready for solid foods (typically around 6 months), fish can be introduced with other complementary foods. There is no evidence that delaying common allergens such as fish prevents allergy.
How should I prepare canned light tuna for a baby?
Drain canned light tuna. Check for bones, then mash or flake into small pieces until soft enough to swallow. Always supervise eating.
Is canned light tuna a lower-mercury fish?
Choose fish lower in mercury. Canned light tuna (including skipjack) is listed among FDA/EPA Best Choices. This is not the same as albacore/white tuna, which is a Good Choice with a lower weekly limit. Avoid fish that are high in mercury, such as shark, swordfish, king mackerel, and bigeye tuna. This is educational guidance — follow your clinician’s advice if you have questions about your child’s diet.
Sources
- WHO Guideline for complementary feeding of infants and young children 6–23 months of age (2023)
- CDC — When, What, and How to Introduce Solid Foods
- FAO/WHO — Risk assessment of food allergens: Part 1 (Codex priority allergen list)
- FDA — Food Allergies (major food allergens / Big 9)
- AAP HealthyChildren — When to Introduce Egg, Peanut Butter & Other Common Food Allergens
- CDC — Foods and Drinks to Avoid or Limit
- FDA/EPA — Technical information on advice about eating fish (Best Choices include canned light tuna)
- CDC — Infant and Toddler Nutrition FAQs