Frequently Asked Questions

INFORMATION

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

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Why should you buy our fish?

It is important to know that Pacific troll caught Albacore come from a sustainable fishery. The fish are harvested using hook and line methods that result in little or no bycatch. No nets are used in this dolphin-free fishery that targets surface-feeding fish from abundant stocks. There are many sites selling fish on the web. Nearly all of them buy their fish for resale from other fishermen. Not all fishermen handle their fish with the same care. For instance, albacore swim at 87 degrees F body temperature and must be quickly chilled when caught to below 40 degrees F to prevent histamine poisoning and decomposition. Too many fishermen don’t know or don’t care how to take proper care of their fish. You can tell when you open a can. The consistency of quality starts when the fish is removed from the water. Many people have told me they’ve tried many of the other private labels and mine is consistently the best. That is plain to me because we know the pedigree of every fish we catch. It’s not a “production” boat. My crew is trained to handle each fish in ten steps. (Take a look at our fishing methods to see the steps my crew takes for salmon and albacore.) Every fish is individually treated the same. If we can find a way to improve our quality – we apply it. So many people tell me once they try our canned fish, they just can’t go back to the major brands.
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Why is Oregon’s Choice Albacore so low in mercury?

The longer the fish has been in the ocean, the more time it has to accumulate mercury.  Our fish are young – mostly 2, 3 and 4 year old fish have not had the time to accumulate mercury as compared to the large amounts of mercury found in the large old fish favored by major canners. The younger fish swim closer to the surface of the water, which is where we fish; while the older fish swim closer to the ocean floor. More information about very low levels of mercury in Albacore can be found on the American Albacore Fishermens Association website. Also, Environmental Defense has not issued a consumption advisory for hook and line caught Albacore tuna because of our fishing methods. Click here for our mercury analysis report.

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Why else should you buy our fish?

I’ve fished the Pacific for 37 years and for 28 some years, I’ve been taking premium care of my albacore and salmon to present the highest quality.

It started in the biggest El Nino of the century back in 1981. I was just one of the production minded fishermen of the Pacific fleet who made a living catching volumes of salmon and tuna. With the El Nino came hot empty waters and lots of guys went out of business. I wondered how to make a living for my family catching fewer fish. The answer was quality! I found I could get more money by taking better care of my fish and selling to premium markets. In 1983 I put an air blast freezer on my fishing boat the EZC. I became the first FAS (frozen at sea) boat in the Oregon fleet. A broker sold my fish to quality minded restaurants across the country and Japan. After the first load went to market he told me “Herb, my buyer said there is something wrong with your fish.” Stunned, I asked what. The answer was. He said he loved them but there aren’t enough of them. Catch more!”

After the El Nino waned and the ocean bloomed with feed and fish, I decided I liked catching fewer fish to make the same money. I found a new pride in taking super care of two fish that deserve the best albacore tuna and Chinook salmon. For 70 some years the major canners have ruined what albacore should taste like, and when all the U.S. canners moved their plants to third world countries for the cheap labor pool, the quality dropped again.

Tuna is the most consumed fish in the country every year.  Every kid grows up on tuna fish sandwiches.  When new people try mine for the first time, they always say where has this been all my life?

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Which canned tuna is lowest in mercury?

Oregon albacore tuna have much lower mercury levels compared to tuna caught elsewhere. Albacore tuna in the Pacific Northwest are part of a specific migratory group that inhabits waters with lower mercury levels. Additionally, these migrating fish are young, meaning they haven’t had time to accumulate high levels of mercury. Our hook-and-line fishing methods ensure that we only catch young, clean fish, making this approach both sustainable and healthier for you to eat.

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Which canned tuna is healthiest?

A 6 oz can of Oregon’s Choice Gourmet canned tuna has 300 calories, 39 grams of protein and 5100 mg omega 3’s!

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What is the shelf life of your Albacore tuna and salmon?

Our cans of Gourmet Albacore Tuna, Gourmet Chinook Salmon and Alaskan Sockeye Salmon are good for 10 years from the purchase date.

The canning date is printed on the can in this format: XX (year) XX (Month) XX (day) X (batch #). For example, the code 2301184 means that it was canned ’23 (year) 01 (month) 18 (day) 4 (batch #). This can is good for ten years from this date.

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What is the mercury content of your Albacore?

We get a lot of calls about just how low the mercury levels are in our fish: “You say its low mercury, but where is the proof?” Until now, we’ve been sending our mercury analysis data to our customers along with their orders. See for yourself!

Updated albacore testing results can also be found on the American Albacore Fishing Association website – www.americanalbacore.com.

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What is the difference between Sockeye Salmon and Chinook Salmon?

What are the differences between Chinook Salmon and Sockeye Salmon?

Sockeye Salmon has a bright red hue from eating zooplankton which provides significant amounts of carotenoids and B12. With a medium fat content, sockeye salmon is considered to be one of the best-tasting (and healthiest) types of salmon.

Nutrition Profile For Sockeye Salmon (Per 100g)
Calories/Nutrient Sockeye Salmon
Calories 153 kcal
Carbohydrate 0 g
Fat 7.3 g
Saturated Fat 1.0 g
Monounsaturated Fat 2.2 g
Polyunsaturated Fat 1.4 g
Omega-3 1130 mg
Omega-6 80 mg
Protein 21.9 g
Vitamins and Minerals Amount (% DV)
Vitamin B12 130 % DV
Selenium 43 % DV
Vitamin B3 40 % DV
Phosphorus 24 % DV
Vitamin B1 17 % DV
Vitamin B2 17 % DV
Vitamin B6 14 % DV
Vitamin B5 11 % DV
Potassium 10 % DV
Magnesium 7 % DV
Vitamin E 6 % DV
Vitamin A 4 % DV
Folate 3 % DV
Iron 3 % DV
Copper 3 % DV
Zinc 3 % DV
Calcium 1 % DV
Manganese 1 % DV

Chinook salmon has a higher fat content, softer texture and has a higher overall omega 3 content per serving. 

Nutrition Profile For Wild Chinook Salmon (Per 100g)
Calories/Nutrient Amount (grams)
Calories 179 kcal
Carbohydrate 0 g
Fat 10.4 g
Saturated Fat 3.1 g
Monounsaturated Fat 4.4 g
Polyunsaturated Fat 2.8 g
Omega-3 2342 mg
Omega-6 122 mg
Protein 19.9 g
Vitamins and Minerals Amount (% DV)
Selenium 52 % DV
Vitamin B3 42 % DV
Phosphorus 29 % DV
Magnesium 24 % DV
Vitamin B12 22 % DV
Vitamin B6 20 % DV
Potassium 11 % DV
Vitamin A 9 % DV
Folate 8 % DV
Vitamin B5 7 % DV
Vitamin C 7 % DV
Vitamin B2 7 % DV
Vitamin E 6 % DV
Vitamin B1 4 % DV
Calcium 3 % DV
Zinc 3 % DV
Copper 2 % DV
Manganese 1 % DV
Iron 1 % DV
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What is sustainable seafood?

If you buy fish managed under a U.S. fishery management plan, you can be assured it meets 10 national standards for conservation and sustainable management. http://fishwatch.noaa.gov.

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What if I get a dented can?

Dented cans are 100% safe to eat. The modern can design has no solder-seams that could (when dented) deteriorate and flake into the food inside the can. Our cans are made from steel and have an enamel coating to ensure the safety of the food. We eat dented cans every day and have never seen a spoiled can. We do not send out dented cans from our facility (because we eat them!). If you have questions please call us at 877-752-8862.

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What happens if my order is lost or damaged in shipping?

Please let us know right away if you think your package has been lost in transit. In almost every instance we are able to locate the package and have it delivered to you. We offer a refund or replacement on lost orders if they are reported to us within 30 days of the order being placed. If your order arrives damaged, please send photos of the damage to hello@oregonschoice.com and we can offer store credit or replacement cans on your next order.

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What does the liquid in the can contain?

Nothing but fish oil rich in Omega 3s.  We add nothing (except a little salt in the salt added products) in the canning process.

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What Canned Tuna Should You Avoid?

Tuna caught outside of the US can be very high in mercury. It’s best to stick with US-caught and processed seafood, specifically from the West Coast (Oregon, Washington, California).

Beware of labels that state “may be caught in US waters.” This often means the tuna was likely not caught in US waters, and even if it was, it was NOT canned in the US!

Tuna caught and processed in the US is lower in mercury and caught sustainably. This choice also supports a much lower carbon footprint, local communities, and good jobs.

Avoid tuna packed in oil or water. Instead, choose tuna packed in its own natural juices. This option retains more of the fish’s natural oils and omega-3 fatty acids, making it a healthier choice.

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What are the shipping rates and how do you ship?

Shipping to anywhere in the U.S. on orders over $100 (including Alaska and Hawaii) is free. Orders under $100 have a flat $12 shipping fee.
We ship via FedEx 2-day Express and FedEx Home Delivery. Most orders will ship out within 1-2 business days.
For orders up to 18 cans we ship FedEx 2-day Express. Orders of more than 18 cans ship via FedEx Home Delivery (or Ground if going to a business address).

We only ship USPS if we are shipping to a PO Box, or by special request.

You can expect your package to arrive within 2-6 business days, on average. Please contact us or leave a note with your order if you have special shipping requests and we will be happy to accommodate.

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Our Policies

If for any reason you are unsatisfied, all of our products come with an unconditional 100% money back guarantee (excluding shipping costs).

You may request a refund if you receive damaged cans or are unsatisfied with your order by calling customer service at 877-752-8862 or by emailing sales@oregonschoice.com. Refunds will be issued within 1-2 business days of returned items. Credits will be issued to the original payment form. If you used a credit card for purchase we will refund your credit card, or if you sent a check you will receive a check in the mail. Your bank may require additional processing time for your refund to show, even after we have issued the credit.

We do not share any of your personal or ordering information in any way, shape for form to any other person or organization.

All products are shipped via FedEx or USPS, ground.

To contact us directly, please call 877-752-8862.

TERMS & CONDITIONS

If you would like to make a return, please follow the 3 simple steps below.

Please notify OREGON’S CHOICE of your return by emailing sales@oregonschoice.com, calling us at 877-289-8862 or by using the contact form online. Please note that this MUST be within 14 days of receipt of your purchase.
2.  Please pack and return your item in its original unused condition and enclose a note with your Name and Order Number inside the package.
3.  Send your return to:

OREGON’S CHOICE GOURMET 1985 NW Lance Way, Corvallis OR 97330

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Cans must be checked upon receipt of delivery. If there are any defects or discrepancies you must notify us within 24 hours.

Items must be returned in their original, unused condition.

You are responsible for packaging the return appropriately. Any cans which arrive back with any damage due to insufficient packaging will not be refunded.

We are unable to refund you for any postage costs.  Also, direct cost of returning the goods is your responsibility unless otherwise agreed.

When shipping your items back, you must obtain proof of postage of your return. We are not responsible for items lost or damaged in transit.

Refunds will be processed when the request to return is made within 14 days from receipt of delivery.

A credit will be issued if the request to return is made after 14 days from receipt of delivery.

All returns must be received by OREGON’S CHOICE GOURMET within 30 days from receipt of delivery to qualify for a refund. Credits will not be issued after 90 days from receipt of delivery.

Please note SALE items are non-refundable. You may return items on sale for a credit.  Please note sale items must be returned within 14 days from receipt of delivery.

FOR FAULTY OR DAMAGED ITEMS

Please email sales@oregonschoice.com, call us at 877-289-8862 or use the contact form, within 24hrs of receipt of delivery. When emailing please include a photograph of the damaged/faulty item. We will then be able to discuss a replacement or a refund for you.

Please DO NOT return damaged or faulty goods without contacting us first. We are unable to refund any postage costs incurred if you return damaged items without contacting us.

OTHER IMPORTANT RETURNS INFORMATION

We cannot be responsible for interest charges made by your credit card company while waiting for returns to be refunded to your card.

All orders will be refunded in US dollars, within 2 working days (excluding weekends) of receipt of your return. Refunds may take up to 10 days to clear in your account.

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More Information on seafood

For lots of other pubs and marine related information, visit these other great sites:

Oregon Sea Grant
Seafood Network Info Center (UC Davis)
OSU Seafood Consumer Center 

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Is your tuna processed in the USA?

Yes! All of our products are canned in Coos Bay, OR (with the exception of our Alaskan Sockeye Salmon which is canned in Alaska).

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Is canned tuna good for you?

Yes! Canned tuna is low in calories, high in protein, and very rich in Omega-3 fatty acids (6500 mg per can!). It is an excellent natural source of vitamin D, B vitamins, selenium, magnesium, potassium, iron, and zinc.

Eating Oregon-caught and canned tuna is an easy and natural way to get your protein along with Omega-3s, vitamins, and minerals without any harmful additives or concerns about mercury contamination.

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Is albacore, the white-meat tuna, always white?

No! The flesh of younger fish is pink, as are fish feeding on krill and shrimp. Fish feeding on squid are yellow or orange in flesh color. Another reason can be extra cook time. We only need to cook our fish once because the quality of the fish is perfect as is, from care and quality handling from the time the fish is caught until it is canned. Other tuna companies must cook theirs twice because the meat is poor quality (bruising from mishandling, etc.) which in turn makes their fish more “uniform” in color from can to can. This is also why they must add oil or water to their fish; while we pack the fish only in it’s own natural juices.

Most often it is white, but like other fish, flesh color varies according to what it eats. Farmed salmon would be an unappetizing grey from their pellet diet so that’s why chemical coloring agents are used to make them look like “real” salmon.

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I’m concerned about fallout from the Japanese tsunami.

The information we have about albacore tuna caught in Oregon is that it is safe to eat. NOAA, EPA, and FDA have been monitoring seafood since the nuclear meltdown. Radiation does not last long in the water, and the tuna were expected to be far off shore at the time of the meltdown. There was radiation linked to this event found in Bluefin tuna (we do not can Bluefin, only Albacore tuna), however, the amounts found at very low levels, and were within FDA approval.

This is a link to the NOAA-FDA-EPA fact sheet, and also to the NOAA Seafood Inspection website.
https://www.fda.gov/downloads/Food/RecallsOutbreaksEmergencies/Emergencies/UCM253896.pdf

Another site with helpful information that is frequently updated is NOAA’s Japanese Tsunami Marine Debris website. http://marinedebris.noaa.gov/tsunamidebris/.

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How much salt is in your albacore tuna and salmon?

Sea salt is what we use to salt our salt added products. Our salt added albacore contains 135 mg sodium per 55 g serving (with about 3 servings per 6 oz. can and 4 servings per 7.75 oz. can).  The salmon contains 240 mg per 55 g serving.

The no salt added products have small amounts of naturally occurring salt – albacore is 20 mg per 55 g serving and salmon is  25 mg per 55 g serving.

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How much Omega-3 is there per serving?

We’ve had our canned products tested for Omega 3’s and here are the results:

Our Gourmet Albacore Tuna has 6,500 mg Omega 3 per 7.5 oz can

Gourmet Chinook Salmon has 5,150 mg Omega 3 per 7.5 oz can

Alaskan Sockeye Salmon has 2,500 mg Omega 3 per 7.5 oz can

Check our articles tab for more info from Captain Herb on Omega-3 content and why ours is so much higher than the “leading store brands”. The nutritional facts on a pouch of Starkist’s best premium albacore proudly proclaims Omega-3 content of 450 mg. per 55 gram serving- Ours is five times higher (and ten times lower in mercury, not to mention a billion times better tasting!)

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How much actual meat is there in one 6 oz. can?

Unlike other seafood companies, there is actually 6 full ounces of meat in one of our six ounce cans. The other guys are only required to have 3.5 oz. of meat in a 6 oz. can, and do so.

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How do you ship, how long does it take and what is the cost?

We ship via FedEx 2-day Express and FedEx Home Delivery. Most orders will ship out within 1-2 business days.

For orders up to 18 cans we ship FedEx 2-day Express. Orders of more than 18 cans ship via FedEx Home Delivery (or Ground if going to a business address).

We only ship USPS if we are shipping to a PO Box, or by special request.

Shipping is free on all US orders over $100. For orders under $100, shipping is $12.

You can expect your package to arrive within 2-6 business days, on average. Please contact us or leave a note with your order if you have special shipping requests and we will be happy to accommodate.

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How do I read the expiration date?

Our cans have the canning date printed on them in this format: year, month, day, batch number. So if your can has the numbers 2301191, that means that it was canned on 01/19/23, batch #1. Our cans of tuna and salmon are good for ten years from the canning date, so these would be good until 2033. The shellfish cans are good for 5 years from the canning date.

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How are your smoked products prepared?

All of our smoked products are smoked in an old fashion smoke house with Alder wood or whatever hard wood is available at the time. We do not add liquid smoke.

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How are the shrimp harvested?

Shrimp are caught by dragging big nets, similar to those Forrest Gump used on the gulf coast, except modern excluders are added to prevent the incidental catch of other marine life. Our shrimp fishery is approved by the Marine Stewardship Council, so it doesn’t have any environmental issues.

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How are the oysters harvested?

Oysters are cultured in some of our coastal bays and are closely inspected by our WA and OR Departments of Agriculture. We can our oysters only at the time of year when they are at their fattest, away from the spawning time.

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Has your albacore been tested for radiation?

We had our Oregon’s Choice albacore tested by an independent laboratory. The results show that any radiation that may be present is too low to be measured. See for yourself!

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Does a fish lose nutritional value in canning?

According to Dr. Ken Hilderbrand, longtime seafood technologist for Oregon State University, our salmon and tuna lose very little in the canning process, so it’s nearly the same nutritional value as raw fish.  The value is locked in the can.  Be sure to save the juice that comes with the fish in the can.  There is a high percent of Omega-3 oil in that juice.

You want to pour away the liquid that comes with major brand tuna because it has no value.  The hydrolyzed vegetable protein will probably come up on you the rest of the day.

Mix the juice in a can of Oregon’s Choice albacore or salmon with the fish or drink it, because it’s good for you.

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Do you have non BPA cans available?

All of our products are packed in non-BPA cans and non-BPA pouches.

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Do you have a retail outlet?

We sell online or via phone, toll free – 1-877-289-8862

We do have our products in some select stores thinly scattered around the country.  For a listing, see the next FAQ.

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Can you ship to Alaska and Hawaii?

Yes! We ship via FedEx 2-day (or via USPS if shipping to a PO Box) to both AK and HI with no additional postage necessary. Orders of $100 or more ship for free, otherwise the shipping rate is $12.

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Can I buy just a couple of cans to try?

Yes! If you would like to sample our products by just ordering a couple of cans, we now sell 4 can packs. Feel free to call us at 877-289-8862 for orders less than 4 cans.

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Can canned tuna go bad?

Canned tuna has a long shelf life (10 years!) when stored properly. The best place to store your cans of tuna is a cool, dry place like your pantry. Once opened, you should transfer to a sealed container and eat within 3-4 days. Otherwise, those cans in your pantry will be good for 10 years!

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Are your products all caught and processed in the US?

Yes, all of our products are caught and processed in the Pacific Northwest. We only catch and can what is local to us here in Oregon, and work exclusively with local micro canneries here in Oregon.

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Are you seafood savvy?

FishWatch can help you make informed decisions about the seafood you eat by providing you with the most accurate and timely information available on the sustainability of U.S. seafood fisheries. FishWatch is brought to you by NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service, the U.S. authority on marine fisheries science, conservation, and management.

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Are there any stores which carry your products?

IDAHO

Atkinsons Ketchum Graccobi square 451 4th st. E. Ketchum ID 83340

Atkinson’s Bellevue 757 n. main st. Bellevue ID 83313

MASSACHUSETTS

Formaggio Kitchen 244 huron ave. Cambridge, MA. 02138

OREGON

Bella Store 2023 Main St. Baker City, OR 97814

First Alternative Coop 1007 SE 3rd St. Corvallis, OR 97333

First Alternative Coop – North Store 2855 NW Grant Ave. Corvallis, OR 97330

McKay’s Market 107 N Coast Hwy Newport, OR 97365

Newport Ave. Mkt. 1121 NW Newport ave, Bend. Or. 97701

New Seasons Orenco Station 1453 NE 61st Hillsboro, OR 97124

New Seasons Raleigh Hills 7300 SW Beaverton Hillsdale Hwy Portland, OR 97225

New Seasons Sellwood 1214 SE Tacoma St. Portland, OR

New Seasons Arbor Lodge 6400 N Interstate Portland, OR 97217

New Seasons Cedar Hills 3495 SW Cedar Hills Blvd. Beaverton, OR 97005

New Seasons Lake Oswego 3 Monroe Parkway Lake Oswego, OR. 97035

New Seasons Concordia 5320 NE 33rd Ave. Portland, OR 97211

New Seasons PDX 1214 SE Tacoma St. Portland, OR 97202

New Seasons 7 Corners 1954 SE Division St. Portland, OR 97202

New Seasons Mountain Park 3 Monroe Parkway Lake Oswego, OR 97035

New Seasons Happy Valley 15861 SE Happy Valley Town Center Dr 97015

Market of Choice West Linn