Our specially
selected, smaller, locally caught albacore are higher
in omega 3's, lower in mercury, and far superior in
taste. Unlike store bought fish, there is no water,
soy, or vegetable broth added.
Mercury by fish weight
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Making
Healthy Eating Choices
(Mercury and Omega 3's):
Not all Albacore Tuna are the Same
For the past few years there has been a heavy emphasis
by the media and anti-fishing groups on the subject
of mercury in fish. There has also been a good deal
of positive publicity concerning the health benefits
of fish that are high in Omega 3's. When making healthy
eating choices, it is important to understand that not
all albacore tuna are the same. Below is a brief guide
that shows how to choose the healthiest and best tasting
albacore available.
Mercury in Albacore Tuna
Mercury is a natural element that is found in minute
quantities in air, water and all living things. Some
fish have more mercury than others depending on their
environment and their position in the food chain. Fish
absorb mercury in their gills from their environment
and as they feed on other aquatic organisms. Until a
recent 2003 study done by Oregon State University, no
distinction was made between the mercury levels in smaller,
younger albacore tuna and larger, older albacore tuna.
Most of the albacore tuna sold in the grocery stores
of the US is the larger, older albacore tuna that is
caught using long lines off the coast of Asia. These
fish are much larger, higher in mercury and lower in
Omega 3's than their younger West Coast counterparts.
Some producers brag about the fact that their tuna are
caught with long lines, and not nets. This is a description
of a particular type of fishing that catches larger,
higher mercury albacore. All of our fish are caught
using simple hook and line, not long line.
Smaller Albacore
(West Coast) |
Larger Albacore
(Imported) |
Mercury PPM - 0.140 |
Mercury PPM - 0.353 |
Omega 3's - Higher |
Omega 3's - Lower |
Flavor - Superior |
Flavor - Good |
Color - Less White |
Color - More White |
The Food and Drug Administration lists
the mercury level of "canned albacore tuna"
at .353 parts per million. This figure fails to account
for the differences between larger, older, longline-caught
albacore and our smaller, locally-caught albacore which
in a recent study by Oregon State University have an
average mercury content of .140 parts per million. This
is less than half of the mercury level of albacore you
are likely to find in your supermarket, and nearly the
same as "canned light tuna" which
the FDA rates at .118 parts per million.
The
Color & Flavor of Premium Albacore
Albacore tuna is the only tuna that
can be canned using the descriptive term "White
Meat." As albacore tuna get older and older, the
meat becomes lighter in color. This is due to a loss
of body fat, which results in a loss in flavor and a
loss of beneficial omega-3's. Large albacore canneries
in Japan and other Asian countries export these older,
higher mercury, whiter albacore to the United States
because if we see "White Meat" on the label,
we expect it to be white. In contrast, the younger,
more flavorful albacore are actually a light beige color,
with better flavor and more health benefits.
No Additives
The only thing you will find in our cans
of premium quality albacore tuna is specially selected
hand-filleted, hand-packed tuna and a small amount of
salt. Next time you go to the supermarket, take a look
at the label of a can of albacore. You will see that they
add water and soy or vegetable broth. You are not buying
a can of tuna. Instead, you are buying water, tuna, and
soy or vegetable broth. Take a look at the photo at the
left of our tuna, and three cans of albacore purchased
from the local supermarket. Each has water added that
you are paying for. The only liquid in our can is what
naturally cooks out of the tuna during the canning process.
Although our price is a bit higher, you are getting more
tuna for your money. Stop paying for water and vegetable
broth. Not only this, you are getting healthier tuna that
is far better tasting.
Food Safety
All of our tuna
is caught by Americans in the pristine coastal waters
of Washington and Oregon. It is hand filleted, hand packed,
and canned right here in the USA under the stringent guidelines
of the Food and Drug Administration. Most supermarket
albacore is caught and packaged in Asia, then shipped
here. With recent problems with the food items coming
in from Asia, you can have confidence in this highest
quality all-American product.
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