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Most simply, light tuna is tuna that isn’t white. “White tuna” has an official definition: It’s albacore (which tastes mild and feels firm), and it scores high on a color test. Tuna labeled “light” is pretty much everything else.
Light tuna is primarily made up of a species called skipjack, says Gavin Gibbons, a spokesperson for the National Fisheries Institute, but it can include others such as bigeye, yellowfin, and tongol, in “any combination,” says Stephanie Danner, the fisheries research manager at the Monterey Bay Aquarium.
As for the “chunk” part, it means that the tuna in the can will be in smaller pieces that vary in size, as opposed to “solid” tuna, which is in larger, firmer pieces with fewer flakes.
The FDA’s color test is called the Munsell value. According to FDA regulations, tuna labeled “light” cannot be darker than a Munsell value of 5.3. White tuna cannot be darker than a Munsell value of 6.3. The FDA also has official definitions of the terms chunk and solid: They’re measured by the way the pieces fit through a mesh screen, and the percentage of allowable flake. Light and white tuna have similar nutritional profiles, but white has slightly more fat and calories.
There’s one more important distinction, but it has nothing to do with FDA definitions. White tuna has more mercury than light tuna. StarKist notes in its FAQ that “FDA testing has shown that canned light meat tuna has an average of 0.1 parts per million (ppm) and that Albacore (white meat) tuna has an average of 0.35 ppm.” The reason is that albacore are larger, older fish than the types used for light tuna, so they’ve had more time to accumulate methylmercury.
Nevertheless, the lower-in-mercury light tuna is less expensive than the white tuna, probably because people prefer white.
I, too, experienced what bongonorm above describes as tuna gruel today. It was a can of Bumblebee light chunk tuna, and it was disgusting. Exasperated, I found this article and am now happy that this truly nagging question has been forever settled in my mind. I will actually be buying a lot more tuna now that my in-store cognitive dissonance as been dismissed forever. Thanks, Chow!
Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) is a marketing scheme that is a collaboration between WWF and Unilever, which is one of the world's biggest seafood retailers. They represent small fisheries worldwide that are not properly managed or where the ecosystem is being damaged. I don't trust MSC blue labels on seafood. There are more reputable seafood watch dogs out there, such as Earth Island and Blue...+READ
Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) is a marketing scheme that is a collaboration between WWF and Unilever, which is one of the world's biggest seafood retailers. They represent small fisheries worldwide that are not properly managed or where the ecosystem is being damaged. I don't trust MSC blue labels on seafood. There are more reputable seafood watch dogs out there, such as Earth Island and Blue Ocean Institute, to ensure that fishing boats to processing factories are maintaining sustainable practices. And they don't need to flash it like MSC with their "certified" label. It reminds me of PETA's marketing gimmick to have cosmetic companies literally buy the label that guarantees that cosmetics were not tested on animals.
By the way, it is safer to consume skipjack because it is a smaller fish, therefore they consume less, therefore they have less mercury in their system. An albacore tuna or any larger fish for that matter, consume much, much more, will most likely have a higher mercury content. Probably the safest fish (fresh or salt water) to eat are Skipjack, Salmon, Arctic Char, Anchovies, Herring, Scallops, & Sturgeon.-COLLAPSE
Some times when I open light chunk it is nothing but tuna gruel. Other times I find sections of solid firm center core light meat with nice big chunky flakes of tuna surrounding it. So what is with this measured through a screen standard mention above???
Pole & Troll Caught Albacore Tuna out of the MSC Certified North Pacific Albacore Fishery is tested to have low or lower Mercury content than the "Chunk Light" products. The Albacore out of this fishery have 10 times the Omega 3 content and are all Traceable & Sustainable. Some of the most damaging fisheries on Earth harvest tuna for the "chunk light" brands. When it comes to canned tuna Pole &...+READ
Pole & Troll Caught Albacore Tuna out of the MSC Certified North Pacific Albacore Fishery is tested to have low or lower Mercury content than the "Chunk Light" products. The Albacore out of this fishery have 10 times the Omega 3 content and are all Traceable & Sustainable. Some of the most damaging fisheries on Earth harvest tuna for the "chunk light" brands. When it comes to canned tuna Pole & Troll Caught Albacore products out of the North Pacific are the best option for your health & the Oceans.-COLLAPSE
Most everyday brands of 'light' tuna in the US could be better described as 'shredded', and appear to be the waste product left over from bits and pieces that weren't big enough for 'solid'. Even the so-called solid canned tuna are likely to be only partially recognizable as once being part of a real fish. Throw in severe over-cooking and excessive amounts of salt, and the whole package seems...+READ
Most everyday brands of 'light' tuna in the US could be better described as 'shredded', and appear to be the waste product left over from bits and pieces that weren't big enough for 'solid'. Even the so-called solid canned tuna are likely to be only partially recognizable as once being part of a real fish. Throw in severe over-cooking and excessive amounts of salt, and the whole package seems designed for people who don't actually like fish for food.-COLLAPSE
MazDee, Hi, yes, I have been VERY distressed at the variety of what you will find when you open that can. One day I got 6 cans of a brand name white, chunk tuna. Half were chunk, half were all flake, many were dark. Since that time, I have bought the "giant" can of albacore at Sam's and rolled it into big cigar sized baggies and froze. Keeps well, basically a dollar a can pricewise, and if it is...+READ
MazDee, Hi, yes, I have been VERY distressed at the variety of what you will find when you open that can. One day I got 6 cans of a brand name white, chunk tuna. Half were chunk, half were all flake, many were dark. Since that time, I have bought the "giant" can of albacore at Sam's and rolled it into big cigar sized baggies and froze. Keeps well, basically a dollar a can pricewise, and if it is not chunk, I can return it. Works for me!-COLLAPSE
Thanks for the info! I think if I had seen light tuna on a label, I would have assumed it to be "lite" as in lower fat. Not sure if they even sell it here in México, it all seems to be albacore, but I will look more carefully. For salads, I usually get the Spanish tuna in olive oil, which is pretty good and widely available, but a little pricey. Never see Italian here. It is true that the...+READ
Thanks for the info! I think if I had seen light tuna on a label, I would have assumed it to be "lite" as in lower fat. Not sure if they even sell it here in México, it all seems to be albacore, but I will look more carefully. For salads, I usually get the Spanish tuna in olive oil, which is pretty good and widely available, but a little pricey. Never see Italian here. It is true that the albacore doesn't have much flavor. And isn't anyone else distressed that "chunk" tuna in cans doesn't have chunks anymore? You have to buy "solid" just to get chunks!-COLLAPSE
I find that oil packed tuna from Italy has the most flavor. I agree on light tuna as a good alternative. The minimal calories from oil packing are worth it.
im wondering if i remember a story on can tuna being cooked for a couple of hours and the packaged types cooked for only a few miniutes? could this explain why ive preferd the packaged ones since theyarrived.i thought they were less like my cat food wich is very close to most can types of tuna ive had ?
I opened a can of BumbleBee white albacore in water, and my cat didn't even blink in my direction. A can of Chicken of the Sea light in water, and I've got instant purring fur anklets. Usually I don't base my food choices on what a pet eats, but a cat who can't be bothered to move for tuna....that can't be very tasty tuna.
I prefer the light tuna. I find the white is bland.
The extra mercury in the white tuna gives it a zip that light tuna is lacking. The kids really prefer it.
I actually prefer light tuna - it makes for nicer sandwiches and the meat is less dry than white/ albacore tuna. I think it was more flavor too. And of course I like the less expensive price tag!