topic Re: Albacore Tuna - Changed in Among Friends

Albacore Tuna - Changed

Sapphiregal — Sun, 29 May 2022 21:11:49 GMT

I have always bought white albacore tuna in water. Usually Starkist or Chicken of the Sea. Something has changed, though, in the last couple of years. It used to be nice large chunks of white tuna and the water in the can drained easily. Now, what I am getting is mushier and I almost have to press it in a strainer to get the water out. It's just not the quality that it used to be. I have just quit buying it.

Re: Albacore Tuna - Changed

skatting44 — Sun, 29 May 2022 21:14:16 GMT

Yes, I to have noticed that the quality has changed as you noted.

Re: Albacore Tuna - Changed

KingstonsMom — Sun, 29 May 2022 21:18:14 GMT

@Sapphiregal

That's because Chicken of the Sea is now owned and processed by a company in Thailand.

Starkist is now owned and processed by a company in South Korea.

Re: Albacore Tuna - Changed

mac116 — Sun, 29 May 2022 21:18:29 GMT

I find that the Costco/Kirkland brand 0f Albacore in water still has large chunks of tuna and very little water. Pricey but worth it to me.

Re: Albacore Tuna - Changed

TheMemphisVette — Sun, 29 May 2022 21:20:47 GMT

i had same issue with those brands.

then by accident i found walmart brand.

whole tuna slice.....no mush or pieces.

pure white

amazingly awesome!

Re: Albacore Tuna - Changed

PickyPicky3 — Sun, 29 May 2022 21:21:37 GMT

I agree. I buy Bumble Bee Heritage Pack 7 ounce white tuna if I can find it.

Re: Albacore Tuna - Changed

Shelbelle — Sun, 29 May 2022 21:29:57 GMT

We have been very pleased with Wegmans brand.

Re: Albacore Tuna - Changed

twinsister — Sun, 29 May 2022 21:31:39 GMT

@mac116 wrote:
I find that the Costco/Kirkland brand 0f Albacore in water still has large chunks of tuna and very little water. Pricey but worth it to me.

@mac116 - Agree - that is the only brand we buy now.

Re: Albacore Tuna - Changed

skatting44 — Sun, 29 May 2022 21:44:38 GMT

I have always bought Bumblebee, however Ithe texture of the solid white albacore has been off and mushy . ll try the Costco as recomended by another poster. Thanks for FYI

Re: Albacore Tuna - Changed

PhilaLady1 — Sun, 29 May 2022 22:32:13 GMT

I found that the best canned albacore tuna in water in my area is the Acme supermarket generic brand called Signature. Other posters also mention store brands, maybe they are all from the same manufacturer.

Re: Albacore Tuna - Changed

gizmogal — Sun, 29 May 2022 22:56:52 GMT

I have found firm white moist tuna packed in just enough water in every can of Bumblebee white albacore. They offer small cans and larger cans and I find the texture and moisture in both sizes consistent and appealing in Bumblebee. I also buy Bumblebee white tuna -in-water in the individual vacu-pacs that are cut open and emptied in a single portion. No complaints of those either and they take up much less room in the pantry than cans.

I've only been disappointed by other national brands like Chicken of the Sea and Starkist. I haven't tried Costco yet. Bumblebee is still my recommendation.

Re: Albacore Tuna - Changed

WORKING GAL — Sun, 29 May 2022 23:17:22 GMT

@Sapphiregal- I agree that Solid White Albacore has changed. Not only is it mushier without the chunks we were used to, but many times the tuna is not white. I have called these companies to comment and was told that it is normal for the color to vary. My favorite brand is Geisha but it has gotten very expensive. I am now buying Bumble Bee and found the quality to be better than Starkist or Chicken of the Sea. When it goes on sale, I buy a good quantity.

Re: Albacore Tuna - Changed

781Florist — Sun, 29 May 2022 23:49:29 GMT

@mac116 I was going to write the very same thing! It has actually been a while since the quality of white albacore has degraded. I bought one of those Kirkland multi-packs and was elated to see the tuna I was used to!

Re: Albacore Tuna - Changed

luvzchiz — Sun, 29 May 2022 23:51:55 GMT

We have been purchasing Costco Kirkland brand for many years. It is the best in my book and reminds me of the tuna I had as a kid.

Re: Albacore Tuna - Changed

frenchie — Mon, 30 May 2022 00:08:11 GMT

I've been buying the store brand of solid albacore for a while now at 2 for $3. Bumble Bee is $2 each. I've been buying extra. I have a feeling the price will be going up. How about the price of Campbell soup? $1.79 a can? Not me.

Re: Albacore Tuna - Changed

bikerbabe — Mon, 30 May 2022 00:11:04 GMT

I haven’t purchased the big namebrand tuna in many years. I had the misfortune of having to try I can about a year ago and it looked and smelled like very bad cat food. I couldn’t eat it. 🤮

I buy sprouts skipjack or Wild Planet brand. Wild Planet is good because they mercury test every CAN. And skipjack is also low mercury. I don’t care if it costs more. I love tuna and I won’t eat gross Chicken of the Sea etc.

Re: Albacore Tuna - Changed

Sooner — Mon, 30 May 2022 00:22:00 GMT

I don't buy any seafood caught and/or packed in China, Thailand, Korea, or most of Asia.

Re: Albacore Tuna - Changed

Mz iMac — Mon, 30 May 2022 00:22:07 GMT

@Sapphiregal "Now, what I am getting is mushier and I almost have to press it in a strainer to get the water out."

I would have thrown it out, complained to the store manager & gotten my $$$ back (if I saved the receipt).

Did you check the expiration date?

Re: Albacore Tuna - Changed

layla2450 — Mon, 30 May 2022 01:03:46 GMT

I buy Wild Planet albacore tuna from Costco or Bumble Bee Prime Albacore in the gold can (low sodium) or Trader Joes's albacore half salt or no salt.

Re: Albacore Tuna - Changed

Venezia — Mon, 30 May 2022 00:42:51 GMT

The Sam's Club solid white albacore tuna (in water) has always been excellent in the past. But about six months ago, I bought my usual multipack. Opened a can and it was awful.

It was pure mush, sort of a brownish pink color, looked oily and just downright nasty. I opened a second can - same thing. Well, I wasn't eating that and I wasn't giving it to my cats. (If I make a sandwich, I let them have a small amount that's left over.)

I took photos and went online to leave a review. Turned out some others had had a similar experience in recent months. Sam's Club has excellent customer service and I got a full refund and tossed the remaining cans. They forwarded the information to their supplier as well. It helps a retailer, if the customer lets them know when something goes wrong.

I think some suppliers think that after a while they can get away with cutting corners.