The U.S. Food and Drug Administration wants to update how tuna is weighed.
According to a notice in the Aug. 25 Federal Register, the FDA has proposed to base the standard of fill of container on the product's drained weight, rather than pressed cake weight.
The move could save millions of dollars annually and give consumers more transparency about the amount of fish in cans.
"We tentatively conclude that revising these food standards will promote honesty and fair dealing in the interest of consumers," the FDA wrote.
The FDA said its proposed changes were partially fueled by a 2016 petition from industry leaders including Bumble Bee Foods, StarKist Co., and Tri Union Seafoods, LLC (doing business as Chicken of the Sea International) that sought to modernize how tuna is weighed.
"The pressed cake weight test is an archaic test that is difficult to perform, prone to human error, and produces inconsistent results," the petition states. "The drained weight test is simpler for industry and regulators to perform and produces more consistent, reliable results, thereby ensuring that consumers get the amount of fish they purchase."
The petition goes on to say the pressed cake weight method was designed for the old 3-piece cans, not the 2-piece cans that are the industry norm today. It also points out that the U.S. is the only country that still uses the
pressed cake weight method.
The FDA's rule changes also include a provision that would "allow the use of safe and suitable flavorings and spices as optional ingredients." The current standard only permits for the use of a single flavoring in canned tuna, lemon oil. The FDA said the move could encourage people to eat more seafood.
"Use of additional flavor profiles, along with the use of more modern methods, may help industry in producing canned tuna products that better meet evolving tastes and consumer preferences. This may help encourage tuna consumption consistent with the seafood recommendations outlined in the 2020– 2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans," the agency wrote.
It's not clear when the rules would take effect if adopted.
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