Tuna, Salmon, and Processed Foods
The talk about processed foods can be confusing, as not all “processed” foods are equal.
Nutrition experts and consumers alike are talking about ultra-processed foods and considering what factors shape healthy food choices. Mintel sees a growing consumer interest in “less processed food,” with 34% of U.S. adults saying, “highly processed is a top concern” (Global food and drink trends 2024).
Shelf-stable Chicken of the Sea tuna and salmon are examples of foods that are processed and can be satisfying and nutritious. Read on to learn more.
Consumer confusion
The talk about processed foods can be confusing, as not all “processed” foods are equal. Research from the International Food Information Council (IFIC) confirms this, reports the Tunaversity course, Inside Consumer Demand. IFIC says that seven out of 10 consumers surveyed are “unsure” if they “fully understand what a processed food is”.
“While some processed foods should be consumed less often, many actually have a place in your daily routine,” advises the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
NOVA: a wide spectrum
The commonly used system for defining processed foods is called “NOVA”, and it was developed by scientists at the University of Sao Paulo in Brazil. It places foods into four groups based on their level of processing: 1) unprocessed or minimally processed foods, 2) processed culinary ingredients, 3) processed foods, and 4) ultra-processed foods.
The research on potential adverse health effects, such as becoming overweight, primarily focuses on ultra-processed foods (NOVA Group 4), rather than on less processed options. These ultra-processed foods contain ingredients that are rarely found in home kitchens or foodservice settings, including high fructose corn syrup, soy protein isolate, casein, maltodextrin, preservatives, and artificial colors or flavors. Examples of ultra-processed foods include many commercial cookies, chips, breakfast cereals, instant soups, deli meats, frozen pizza, and soda.
A study published in 2023 in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition explored the feasibility of creating a menu that aligns with the current Dietary Guidelines for Americans while ensuring at least 80% of calories come from NOVA Group 4 (ultra-processed) foods . The researchers successfully developed a sample menu that achieved a high diet quality score—something not typically captured in the NOVA classification. Their findings suggested that excluding NOVA ultra-processed foods from future dietary guidance could result in the omission of nutrient-dense foods from recommended healthy diets.
Access to safe, healthy food
Food processing plays a crucial role in healthy diets. If food is packaged or canned, it is considered “processed”—often minimally—to allow us to access safe and healthy food that we otherwise could not enjoy. Examples of nutritious and minimally processed foods are bagged salad greens, canned tuna or salmon, roasted nuts, and frozen peas.
“The indispensable role of food processing enables us to have a stable and predictable food supply and maintains food and nutrient security,” comments Harvard Nutrition Source.
Often, consumers can make informed food choices by reading ingredient lists, notes the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. An example is checking for significant amounts of added sugars, e.g., sugar, maltose, brown sugar, corn syrup, cane sugar, honey and fruit juice concentrate.
Shelf-stable seafood
Can you purchase seafood for your foodservice operation without the concern of ultra-processed foods? The answer is definitely yes. Harvard Nutrition Source outlines the continuum of unprocessed to ultra-processed. Fresh fish is an unprocessed food, which is not a practical inventory item for many foodservice operators. Between fresh and ultra-processed is a middle ground that includes many canned and frozen fish options.
Many of Chicken of the Sea’s canned or packet tuna and salmon products tend to fall in the same category as most canned beans or canned fruit—foods that are processed with minimal or few ingredient additions and then packaged. A common addition to these products is a familiar ingredient—salt. “In oil” products also have a vegetable oil or olive oil.
Canned tuna in water is named by authoritative sources like UCLA Health as an example of a natural and minimally processed food. WebMD calls “tuna and salmon in cans or ready-to-eat pouches” examples of “healthy processed foods”. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics categorizes canned tuna with canned tomatoes and frozen vegetables—all “foods with less processing” that are “processed at their peak to lock in nutritional quality and freshness”.
A foodservice approach
In planning menus, foodservice operators can be aware that guests may be looking for information about processed foods. However, many guests may not readily distinguish between ultra-processed foods with unfamiliar ingredients versus foods in the middle of the continuum—processed foods, which allow us to enjoy satisfying and nutritious options.
Processing can be viewed hand-in-hand with nutritional quality. For any consumers who wish to reduce intake of Group 4 foods, many types of canned tuna and canned salmon can fit the bill.
