September 4, 2014
We continue the series of publications on the topic of fish. Following the test of sprat in oil, we present to your attention a test of canned tuna .
| Residents of Japan eat more than 43 thousand tons of tuna per year, and every supermarket in the Land of the Rising Sun has a separate counter for it. In Russia, the popularity of this fish is not yet so high, but interest in it is growing every year. So we decided to test canned tuna in its own juice. |
There is only one Russian
Of course, it is best to eat freshly caught fish, as the Japanese do, but since it is not easy to find it on sale here, you often have to be content with canned fish. Lately people have been buying them with particular interest to prepare tuna salads and other dishes. But what is the quality of these products? We purchased 6 cans of canned tuna from different manufacturers in stores and sent it to the laboratory for testing.
Our “nets” included tuna from the following brands: “Fish Gallery”, “Fish House”, “Fortuna”, “John West”, “Shturval” and “Bars”® . Almost all test participants “sailed” from abroad: the first three were made in Thailand, “John West” in the Seychelles, “Shturval” in China, and only the sample with the completely “unfishy” name “Bars”® was made in Russia. It was all the more interesting to compare the quality of imported and domestic canned food.
About standards . The study of canned tuna was carried out for compliance with GOST 7452-97 “Natural canned fish. Technical conditions". This standard establishes requirements for product safety, organoleptics (taste, smell, color), labeling, storage conditions, etc. Microbiological indicators were checked according to GOST 30425-97 “Canned food. Method for determining industrial sterility."
Salad with lots of vitamins
A fish salad that contains a lot of vitamins is real! Plus, you won't have to spend a lot on it. Let us present to your attention the main ingredients that are necessary for its preparation:
- One can of canned tuna.
- Onion.
- Small tomatoes (can be cherry).
- White vinegar on wine or apples.
But in order to start enjoying this dish, you will need:
First, open the tuna. Once you've done this, drain it of all excess water and pour it into a salad plate. Now you can add beans to taste, but this is not necessary. Wash the cherry tomatoes, cut them into slices and pour them in there. Wash the onion, chop thinly and add to the salad. It can be seasoned with mayonnaise, olive oil and vegetable oil. Mix the ingredients. Everything is ready to eat!
AlinaAuthor of the article
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Test conclusions*
- Safety testing showed that none of the samples contained microorganisms that could cause food poisoning.
- The content of histamine, which can also lead to food poisoning and allergies, was significantly below the maximum permissible value in all tested canned tuna.
- But in terms of organoleptic indicators, three out of six test participants do not meet the requirements of the standard . Fish House tuna tasted sour, while samples of John West and Skipjack (Fish Gallery brand) drew criticism from experts regarding taste, smell and consistency.
- According to the results of the tasting, “Bars” received the highest score for taste, with a significant gap from the other participants in the test .
Note: * All results and conclusions presented in the article refer only to the studied samples.
For those who are interested in how the testing was carried out, what is healthy in tuna and why the histamine it contains is dangerous, what requirements canned fish must meet and which sample was recognized as the most delicious, we offer a continuation of the article.
- Useful properties of tuna
- Safety first
- Half is overboard
- Brief characteristics of samples
Salad sauce
500 g mayonnaise
1 spoon mild mustard
100 g canned tuna
1 tsp. capers
1 tsp. Sahara
Step 1. Blend the tuna and capers in a blender (drain the tuna juice first, you can use it to dilute the sauce a little, if necessary).
Step 2. Mix tuna with mayonnaise, add mustard and a little sugar.
Step 3. Use the sauce for fish and vegetable salads.
Useful properties of tuna
Tuna belongs to the mackerel family. In addition to its large size and weight, it has unique beneficial properties. Scientists have found that if you eat 30 g of tuna meat every day, the likelihood of developing cardiovascular diseases is halved. This is due to the increased content of polyunsaturated fatty acids Omega-3 and Omega-6 in fish. Tuna is a real storehouse of essential amino acids, vitamins, macro- and microelements, so people who regularly eat it have strong immunity and live long. It’s not for nothing that Japan is a country of long-livers. In addition, oddly enough, real tuna is a dietary product, despite its high content of fish oil.
Tuna combines the beneficial properties of fish and the nutritional qualities of meat, which is why the French call it “veal of the sea.” Indeed, in terms of protein content and hemoglobin level, tuna is on par with beef. And the dark red color of the meat of this fish also resembles beef.
American nutritionists recommend that students and researchers regularly eat tuna dishes to increase mental alertness.
The amazing properties of tuna are also appreciated by cosmetologists. According to their observations, the tuna diet improves blood supply to skin cells, moisturizes it and smoothes out wrinkles. And all this thanks to the action of the Omega-3 fat complex and B vitamins (including valuable folic acid).
| Industrial sterility - the absence in a canned product of microorganisms that can develop at the storage temperature established for a particular type of canned food, as well as microorganisms and microbial toxins that are dangerous to human health |
Recipe Tuna in its own juice. Calorie, chemical composition and nutritional value.
Nutritional value and chemical composition of “Tuna in its own juice.”
The table shows the nutritional content (calories, proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals) per 100 grams of edible portion.
| Nutrient | Quantity | Norm** | % of the norm in 100 g | % of the norm in 100 kcal | 100% normal |
| Calorie content | 132.8 kcal | 1684 kcal | 7.9% | 5.9% | 1268 g |
| Squirrels | 23.5 g | 76 g | 30.9% | 23.3% | 323 g |
| Fats | 4.3 g | 56 g | 7.7% | 5.8% | 1302 g |
| Carbohydrates | 0.1 g | 219 g | 219000 g | ||
| Alimentary fiber | 0.1 g | 20 g | 0.5% | 0.4% | 20000 g |
| Water | 71.5 g | 2273 g | 3.1% | 2.3% | 3179 g |
| Ash | 2.356 g | ~ | |||
| Vitamins | |||||
| Vitamin A, RE | 18.4 mcg | 900 mcg | 2% | 1.5% | 4891 g |
| Retinol | 0.018 mg | ~ | |||
| alpha carotene | 0.018 mcg | ~ | |||
| beta Cryptoxanthin | 0.037 mcg | ~ | |||
| Lycopene | 0.029 mcg | ~ | |||
| Lutein + Zeaxanthin | 0.666 mcg | ~ | |||
| Vitamin B1, thiamine | 0.24 mg | 1.5 mg | 16% | 12% | 625 g |
| Vitamin B2, riboflavin | 0.202 mg | 1.8 mg | 11.2% | 8.4% | 891 g |
| Vitamin B4, choline | 67.88 mg | 500 mg | 13.6% | 10.2% | 737 g |
| Vitamin B5, pantothenic | 1.102 mg | 5 mg | 22% | 16.6% | 454 g |
| Vitamin B6, pyridoxine | 0.806 mg | 2 mg | 40.3% | 30.3% | 248 g |
| Vitamin B9, folates | 6.421 mcg | 400 mcg | 1.6% | 1.2% | 6230 g |
| Vitamin B12, cobalamin | 9.845 mcg | 3 mcg | 328.2% | 247.1% | 30 g |
| Vitamin C, ascorbic acid | 0.03 mg | 90 mg | 300000 g | ||
| Vitamin D, calciferol | 5.951 mcg | 10 mcg | 59.5% | 44.8% | 168 g |
| Vitamin E, alpha tocopherol, TE | 0.21 mg | 15 mg | 1.4% | 1.1% | 7143 g |
| gamma tocopherol | 0.01 mg | ~ | |||
| Vitamin K, phylloquinone | 0.2 mcg | 120 mcg | 0.2% | 0.2% | 60000 g |
| Vitamin RR, NE | 14.2953 mg | 20 mg | 71.5% | 53.8% | 140 g |
| Niacin | 9.517 mg | ~ | |||
| Betaine | 0.013 mg | ~ | |||
| Macronutrients | |||||
| Potassium, K | 327.6 mg | 2500 mg | 13.1% | 9.9% | 763 g |
| Calcium, Ca | 33.71 mg | 1000 mg | 3.4% | 2.6% | 2966 g |
| Magnesium, Mg | 29.63 mg | 400 mg | 7.4% | 5.6% | 1350 g |
| Sodium, Na | 348.83 mg | 1300 mg | 26.8% | 20.2% | 373 g |
| Sera, S | 199.68 mg | 1000 mg | 20% | 15.1% | 501 g |
| Phosphorus, Ph | 284.4 mg | 800 mg | 35.6% | 26.8% | 281 g |
| Chlorine, Cl | 604.65 mg | 2300 mg | 26.3% | 19.8% | 380 g |
| Microelements | |||||
| Iron, Fe | 1.017 mg | 18 mg | 5.7% | 4.3% | 1770 g |
| Yod, I | 52.2 mcg | 150 mcg | 34.8% | 26.2% | 287 g |
| Cobalt, Co | 41.87 mcg | 10 mcg | 418.7% | 315.3% | 24 g |
| Manganese, Mn | 0.1622 mg | 2 mg | 8.1% | 6.1% | 1233 g |
| Copper, Cu | 108.64 mcg | 1000 mcg | 10.9% | 8.2% | 920 g |
| Molybdenum, Mo | 4.982 mcg | 70 mcg | 7.1% | 5.3% | 1405 g |
| Nickel, Ni | 6.264 mcg | ~ | |||
| Selenium, Se | 38.116 mcg | 55 mcg | 69.3% | 52.2% | 144 g |
| Fluorine, F | 104.46 mcg | 4000 mcg | 2.6% | 2% | 3829 g |
| Chromium, Cr | 93.96 mcg | 50 mcg | 187.9% | 141.5% | 53 g |
| Zinc, Zn | 0.7396 mg | 12 mg | 6.2% | 4.7% | 1622 g |
| Essential amino acids | |||||
| Valin | 0.001 g | ~ | |||
| Isoleucine | 0.001 g | ~ | |||
| Leucine | 0.001 g | ~ | |||
| Phenylalanine | 0.001 g | ~ | |||
| Nonessential amino acids | |||||
| Alanin | 0.001 g | ~ | |||
| Aspartic acid | 0.002 g | ~ | |||
| Glycine | 0.001 g | ~ | |||
| Glutamic acid | 0.002 g | ~ | |||
| Proline | 0.002 g | ~ | |||
| Serin | 0.001 g | ~ | |||
| Tyrosine | 0.001 g | ~ | |||
| Sterols (sterols) | |||||
| Cholesterol | 35.31 mg | max 300 mg | |||
| Phytosterols | 0.135 mg | ~ | |||
| Saturated fatty acids | |||||
| Saturated fatty acids | 1.2 g | max 18.7 g | |||
| 12:0 Lauric | 0.001 g | ~ | |||
| 14:0 Miristinovaya | 0.272 g | ~ | |||
| 16:0 Palmitinaya | 1.401 g | ~ | |||
| 17:0 Margarine | 0.136 g | ~ | |||
| 18:0 Stearic | 0.564 g | ~ | |||
| Monounsaturated fatty acids | 0.504 g | min 16.8 g | 3% | 2.3% | |
| 16:1 Palmitoleic | 0.324 g | ~ | |||
| 18:1 Oleic (omega-9) | 0.242 g | ~ | |||
| 18:1 cis | 0.001 g | ~ | |||
| Polyunsaturated fatty acids | 0.393 g | from 11.2 to 20.6 g | 3.5% | 2.6% | |
| 18:2 Linolevaya | 0.002 g | ~ | |||
| 18:3 Linolenic | 0.001 g | ~ | |||
| 20:5 Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), Omega-3 | 0.167 g | ~ | |||
| Omega-3 fatty acids | 0.4 g | from 0.9 to 3.7 g | 44.4% | 33.4% | |
| 22:5 Docosapentaenoic acid (DPA), Omega-3 | 0.042 g | ~ | |||
| 22:6 Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), Omega-3 | 0.23 g | ~ |
The energy value of Tuna in its own juice is 132.8 kcal.
Primary Source: Created in the application by the user. Read more.
** This table shows the average levels of vitamins and minerals for an adult. If you want to know the norms taking into account your gender, age and other factors, then use the “My Healthy Diet” application.
Safety first
The research began with the most important thing - safety testing. First of all, it was necessary to find out whether the fish contained microorganisms that could cause food poisoning. From this point of view, all samples turned out to be excellent.
But to be completely sure whether the tuna in the jar is safe or not, you still need to examine it for histamine content. If the amount of this substance is tens of times higher than the maximum permissible norm (100 mg/kg), the fish acquires a pungent taste, and the person who eats it can be poisoned, seriously, even to the point of death. Signs of histamine poisoning are similar to allergy symptoms. But in our case, in all tested canned food, the histamine level was almost two times lower than the permitted “ceiling”: from 57.8 for “Fish House” “Skipjack” sample (trademark “Fish Gallery” ).
Canned fish Bering Tuna for salads in its own juice
Greed has ruined me again. I saw tuna in a store on sale for an unusually low price, and it immediately flashed through my head: “So what if it’s minced, I’m kneading it for a salad anyway...” - and I thought so specifically about this that I even took two cans at once. (I apologize again for the photo)
It would seem that everything is fine...
The price this time became the decisive factor for the purchase, and there was something to entice: on the price tag there was a brightly crossed out large inscription “96”, which was replaced by the number “67”. Looks attractive, doesn't it? And now I was very, very surprised to see in another review of these canned goods the price was about 40 rubles. Either the store is completely deceiving us shamelessly, or the price jump since then has been huge.
Under normal conditions, the main parameter for me about canned tuna is the place of production; This time I looked at it a second time. Here this is Thailand, which means that the fish is preserved where it was caught, and it cannot be tasteless. That's what I thought in the store.
The packaging is bright, with a key, which is convenient. For some reason, instructions for opening are drawn on the lid, indicating what a good opinion the manufacturer has of its consumers =).
The composition and nutritional value do not stand out in any way, everything is as it should be.
...and then I opened the lid
First, I will impartially describe what happened in fact. To avoid misunderstandings, I will say that I am not an expert, but rather, on the contrary, I have little understanding of fish. I liked the taste, it is similar to tuna (I compare it with expensive canned fish, where the fish was whole), there is enough salt. Of course, it is foolish to believe that there are no bones or skin here: dark inclusions are visible even in the photo - however, I did not notice any large inclusions, or rather, did not feel them at all. To me, the fiber in this can was exactly what expensive whole canned tuna would look like if it were ground up.
Based on everything that has been written, I will say that the purchase could actually be considered very successful if the fish did not look like the victim of a sadist.
Yes, inside was not just chopped tuna, but tuna that had been ground into minced meat, carefully and several times. I sometimes bought other chopped tuna, drained the liquid and added it to the salad, remaining satisfied with the result, so this time I decided to do the same. Failed.
The problem is not even the cutting too small, but the fact that this fish cannot be separated from the water; it is almost suspended in the jar. I honestly took it a teaspoon at a time and tried to strain it through a slotted spoon, but after some time the broth came out of the tuna again. As a result, the salad turned out to be “floating”. Accordingly, this tuna is completely unsuitable for most tuna dishes that are prepared from canned fish - salads and pates.
What to do with the second jar? I found a good recipe on one of the culinary sites, and since I don’t remember the author, and the text has not been preserved, I will write briefly.
Everything is extremely simple and tasty, although it sounds strange: you need to boil buckwheat in water, fry onions, pour the entire can of canned food into it and fry a little more, and then mix everything. The excess broth was evaporated, the taste was rich - even such long-suffering tuna as this one had a use.
So, whether to buy it or not depends only on what needs to be prepared, but I’ll still give it “not recommended,” because I didn’t like the quality of the cutting, despite the decent taste, which is worth 3 stars.
About tuna, which is definitely not worth buying
Half is overboard
GOST 7452-97 clearly lists the organoleptic indicators that canned fish, including tuna, must meet. Here they are:
- Taste : Pleasant, typical for this type of canned food, without any foreign taste.
- Smell : Pleasant, characteristic of this type of canned food, without any foreign odor.
- Consistency of fish meat : Tender, juicy or dense. Perhaps a bit dry.
- Consistency of bones, fins : Soft.
- Condition of the fish : The fish pieces are whole and do not fall apart when put out of the jar. The cross section of the pieces is smooth.
- Broth condition : With or without fat on the surface. There may be suspended particles of protein, skin and fish crumbs.
- Color of fish meat : Characteristic of boiled meat of this type of fish.
- Broth color : Light.
- Broth clarity : Clear. Presence of scales : Removed. It is possible to leave scales on salmon fish.
- Laying order : Pieces of fish are tightly laid with a cross section to the bottom and lid of the jar. The height of the pieces should be equal to the internal height of the jar or 4–5 mm below it.
- Presence of foreign impurities : Not allowed.
As it turned out during laboratory tests, three out of six test participants did not meet the requirements of the standard. Fish House tuna tasted sour to experts. Samples of "John West" and "Skipjack" (trademark "Fish Gallery" ) did not stand up to criticism for taste, smell and consistency. They have a taste and smell that is unusual for this type of canned food, as well as a crumbly consistency and cloudy color of the broth.
Natural tuna "Bars"®
Manufacturer : BARS LLC (Russia, Kaliningrad region, Guryevsky district, Rodniki village, Sadovaya st., 7)
Net weight / product, g: 250 / —
Ingredients : Fish, salt
Shelf life / shelf life : 2 years / 2 years
Research result : The sample is safe in terms of microbiological indicators and histamine content, meets the requirements of GOST 30425-97 for organoleptic indicators.
Tasting result : The most appetizing of the dough samples. Large pieces of fish with skin are laid cross-cut to the bottom and lid of the jar. They don't fall apart when taken out of the jar. The broth is transparent, light, jelly-like. The color of the meat is flesh-colored, with a small number of dark spots and spots on the surface. Veins of dark meat characteristic of this type of fish are visible. The taste of canned food is harmonious, moderately salty, without any foreign flavors. The meat is tender, soft, juicy. Overall very tasty canned tuna.
Tasting score: 4,5
Natural tuna “Shturval”
Manufacturer : Dongshan Dongi Foods Co., Ltd (No. 891, Dongxing Road, Tongling Town, Fujian, China)
Net weight / product, g: 185 / —
Ingredients : Tuna, salt.
Shelf life / shelf life : 3 years / 3 years
Research result : The sample is safe in terms of microbiological indicators and histamine content, meets the requirements of GOST 30425-97 for organoleptic indicators.
Tasting result : Medium-sized pieces, light flesh-colored, occupy about half the jar, the remaining half of the jar at the bottom is finely chopped meat, “rot.” There is a lot of broth, pieces of fish float in it freely, when they are taken out of the jar, they do not fall apart. The broth is light in color with a small amount of suspension. The taste is pleasant, fishy, but rather salty, sour, and there is a slight taste of tin. The meat is soft, a little dry.
Tasting score: 3
Tuna pieces in own juice “Fortuna”
Manufacturer : Golden Prize Canning Co., Ltd (Golden Prize Canning Co., Ltd) (55/4 Moo 3 Kok-Kham Road, Bangypraek, Vuang Samuthsakorn, 74000, Thailand)
Net weight / product, g: 185 / 130
Ingredients : Tuna, water, salt.
Shelf life / shelf life : - / 4 years
Research result : The sample is safe in terms of microbiological indicators and histamine content, meets the requirements of GOST 30425-97 for organoleptic indicators.
Tasting result : The contents of the jar look like a single piece, but when the fish is taken out of the jar, it crumbles. The meat is reddish in color, the broth is transparent, similar to melted jelly. The fish tastes sour and salty, and it also has the taste of a tin can. But the meat is easy to chew and the consistency is quite juicy.
Tasting score: 3
How to make canned tuna soup - 15 varieties
- Soup with canned tuna and egg
- Soup with tuna and bell pepper
- Canned tuna soup
- Soup with tuna and vegetables
- Quick tuna soup
- Tuna soup with fish broth
- A simple recipe for soup with vegetables and canned tuna
- Vegetable soup with tuna
- Tuna and pickled cucumber soup
- Corn soup puree with tuna
- Tuna and sauerkraut soup
- Tuna soup in a slow cooker
- Puree soup with canned fish
- Vegetable soup with canned tuna
- Light soup with canned tuna
Tuna in its own juice “Fish House”
Manufacturer : THAI UNION MANUFACTURING COMPANI Limited (979/13-16, MFloor, SMTower, Phaholyothin Road, Samsennai, Phayathai, Bang Kok 10400, Thailand)
Net weight / product, g: 185 / 130
Ingredients : Tuna, water, salt
Shelf life / shelf life : - / 4 years
Research result : The sample is safe in terms of microbiological indicators and histamine content, does not meet the requirements of GOST 30425-97 for organoleptic indicators.
Tasting result : Large pieces of fish are packed tightly in a jar, and covered with a layer of “dust” on top. The piece crumbles when taken out of the jar. The color of the meat is gray-pink, the broth is cloudy with a milky tint. The taste is very sour, there is an extraneous aftertaste that is unusual for canned fish. The consistency of the fish is hard and dry.
Tasting score: 2
Tuna slices in own juice "John West"
Manufacturer : Indian Ocean Tuna Ltd (PO Box 676, fishing port Victoria, Mahe, Seychelles, Seychelles)
Net weight / product, g: 185 / 130
Ingredients : Tuna, water, salt.
Shelf life / shelf life : - / 3 years
Research result : The sample is safe in terms of microbiological indicators and histamine content, does not meet the requirements of GOST 30425-97 for organoleptic indicators.
Tasting result : The meat is chopped into small pieces that fall apart when taken out of the jar. The color of the meat is light flesh-colored, the broth is transparent, with a little suspension. The fish is tasteless, with an unpleasant acrid aftertaste. The consistency is very dry and hard.
Tasting score: 2
