Wondering about the healthful qualities of tuna? One canned
tuna has it all: high omega-3 content and succulent flavor.
It's time to check out Pacific troll-caught albacore tuna.
Here are the facts:
What Makes Troll-Caught Albacore Different?
Unique Population.
Troll-caught albacore are younger, smaller, richer fish
than their cousins harvested from the warm waters of the
tropical Pacific. Troll-caught albacore come exclusively
from cold Pacific waters. These differences in environment
and age result in differences in composition. The Monterey
Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch calls the troll-caught albacore
fishery healthy and sustainable.
Rich in Omega-3s
These are the essential fatty acids, unique to seafood,
that boost heart health, reduce the chance of sudden
cardiac mortality, improve blood fat levels, are essential
for infant brain and neural development, and are linked to
improvements in several inflammatory and immune conditions
such as rheumatoid arthritis. Because troll-caught albacore
are rich in fat, they contain more omega-3s than any other
canned tuna. Fresh troll-caught albacore offer 2-3 times
more heart-healthy omega-3s than most other fatty fish. The
American Heart Association recommends eating two servings
of fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids a week.
Common Albacore vs. Troll-Caught Albacore
Common canned albacore or "white meat" tuna, the kind found
on supermarket shelves, comes from tropical Pacific waters.
During processing, nearly all the fat is lost. Common
canned albacore is almost fat-free, but has very little
omega-3 fatty acids. In contrast, Pacific troll-caught
albacore are younger fish from colder, northern waters.
Troll-caught albacore are handled to retain their fat with
all its healthful omega-3s. That's why troll-caught
albacore tastes juicy and rich and has all the health
benefits of these special omega-3 fatty acids.
What About Light Meat Canned Tuna?
Light meat tuna comes from different species of tuna,
usually skipjack or yellowfin tuna. But no distinction
among species appears on the labels of canned light meat
tuna. The flesh color is usually slightly darker than
albacore. These fish, like tropical albacore, come from
warm waters and are rich in protein, but have less fat and
omega-3 fatty acids than troll-caught albacore.
Where to Find Troll-Caught Albacore
These delicious fish are available fresh in the Pacific
Northwest during the harvest season, July through
September. Some frozen troll-caught albacore can be found
in food markets. Canned gourmet-style troll-caught albacore
is available from specialty markets and at some farmers'
markets. What's more, troll-caught albacore can be
purchased online from specialty packers. It can be
identified by the nutrition label with "3 grams
fat/serving" in contrast to the usual "1 gram" of fat.
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Chef Steven Stallard was professionally trained at the CIA,
Greenbrier Hotel & Tailevent Restaurant of Paris. He spent
nearly 20 years advancing his vision of truly American
Cuisine based on naturally sourced ingredients. Chef Steve
in President and owner of BLiS, Llc, - Handcrafted Gourmet
and Natural Food products. BLiS products including Troll -
Caught Albacore Tuna are now available through the
company's web site http://www.BLiSgourmet.com
