Is there mercury in tuna from the brands “5 Seas”, “Fortuna”, “Bering” and how much meat is in the jars from “White Whale” and “Iberica”?
In Russia, people usually store pork or beef stew, but outside the country, canned tuna is just as popular for home food supplies. However, how certain can you be that it’s actually tuna?
Canned tuna is gaining popularity among Russian consumers. Previously, jars of this fish would sit on shelves for a long time, but now they are being sold and cooked more often, despite the possibly high cost. It's crucial to be cautious about the taste and healthiness of this delicacy due to the risk of mercury overdose, as warned by the WHO.
Russian stores offer many types of canned tuna, but how truthful are the manufacturers with the buyers? Are they trying to cut corners in the production process at the expense of the final product?
The authors of the NashPotrebNadzor program, along with experts from the Roskachestvo laboratory, aimed to determine the quality and safety of canned tuna available in Russian stores.
To do this, canned tuna from seven brands was purchased at regular supermarkets: 5 Seas, Fortuna, Bering, Bars, Ultramarine, White Kit and Iberica.
What is inside the cans?
The experts initially checked if the amount of tuna in the jar matches what is indicated on the label, and whether there is more precious meat or broth in the jars, as they are not inexpensive. The examination results revealed that all selected producers met the Russian standard regulations, which stipulate that each jar should contain at least 50% meat.
However, not all manufacturers are honest about the weight of tuna on the packages. If they state one amount but put less, they can save money from each can and deceive consumers. For example, a jar from the manufacturer “White Whale” contained less fish than indicated on the label.
Next, the experts assessed the presence and quality of the fat in each can of canned tuna. The test indicated that the natural fat contains beneficial substances essential for the human body, confirming the freshness of the fish in the cans. It was found that the fat in the jars is not rancid and is natural.
In the next step of testing canned tuna, the lab experts decided to check whether the deli meat contains mercury, arsenic, lead or cadmium, which is a common concern among shoppers.
The results revealed that even if the selected product samples contain heavy metals, the quantity is so insignificant that consumers need not worry. The amount in the finished product will not pose any harm to the human body.
Based on the results of the check, the experts and the authors of the program unanimously concluded that each of the selected samples of canned tuna is safe.
However, when buying, it is worth remembering that some of the manufacturers are more honest with consumers, and some are less. The final decision will always remain with the consumer.
