In the
StarKist Tuna Fillets. Albacore Lemon & Cracked Pepper, Light Meat Lightly Seasoned and Light Meat Teriyaki. $2.49 to $2.89 per 5-ounce pouch.
Bonnie: I tested these new StarKist Tuna Fillets both hot and cold, as I wondered whether they might substitute for canned tuna in addition to an entree tuna steak, this product's main aim. I'm sad to report my results. Sad, because tuna is a low-fat source of protein, B vitamins, selenium and omega-3 fatty acids, which we should be eating more of for heart health. I doubt these will increase anyone's consumption.
Microwave heating dried out the Albacore Lemon & Cracked Pepper variety and increased the cat food-like aroma of the light meat one. All three are better when added to a salad or mixed with mayo for a sandwich. Still, who in the world would want to pay more money for less tuna that doesn't even taste as good as regular canned tuna?
Carolyn: In the past few years the canned tuna industry has had a lot of success selling better-quality tuna and salmon in pouches. On first glance I assumed that these pouched tuna fillets were an example of StarKist’s taking this idea to the next level: precooked, flavored tuna steak of such high quality that it could be the centerpiece of the evening meal.
I wish it were so. Instead, these reminded me more of Gorton's attempts to make "gourmet-flavored" frozen fish fillets. In both cases, the first tip-off of something "fishy" was fillets of unnaturally uniform size and shape. Then there is the glutinous quality of the sauce. The Teriyaki was so dark and tough; I assumed it was made from some inferior dark tuna (although the ingredient list belies this). The Lightly Seasoned tasted better, though hardly of fish. The Albacore Lemon & Cracked Pepper is the best, which is only to say it tastes as good as similarly flavored chunk light tuna in pouches.
To answer Bonnie’s question: No, I am not interested in being a continuing victim of this tuna fraud. Sorry, Charlie.
Source: Daily Press