U.S – In a move aimed at bringing standards for canned tuna into the 21st century, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has unveiled a proposed rule that could reshape the way we perceive this pantry staple.
The proposed changes encompass everything from labeling to ingredients, reflecting the evolving tastes and expectations of consumers.
One of the key aspects of the proposal is the shift from the age-old “pressed cake weight method” to the more contemporary “drained weight method” for determining the standard fill of a container. This alteration promises greater accuracy and consistency in the amount of tuna packed into each can.
The FDA’s proposal also aims to introduce choice and clarity in ingredients. It would permit the use of safe and suitable flavorings and spices as optional ingredients, granting manufacturers greater freedom to innovate while ensuring safety.
Furthermore, it clarifies that the use of a packing medium is optional, giving producers flexibility in crafting their products.
To avoid redundancy, the proposal removes provisions for specific flavorings and spices, such as monosodium glutamate, spices or spice oils, or spice extracts, garlic, and lemon flavoring.
Instead, it allows the use of safe and suitable optional ingredients and simplifies the discussion of carriers, solubilizing, or dispersing ingredients that may be used with flavorings or spices.
A historical perspective
As consumers become more conscious of what goes into their food, the proposal updates the upper and lower limits of vegetable extractives allowed as an optional ingredient. This acknowledges the increasing demand for transparency in food labeling and ingredients.
Standards of identity and fill of container for canned tuna date back to 1957. While they’ve seen revisions over the years, this proposed overhaul recognizes that certain requirements have become outdated in the context of modern food production and consumption.
The FDA’s establishment of standards of identity dates back to 1938, rooted in a commitment to promote honesty and fairness in the food industry for the benefit of consumers.
Today, there are over 250 such standards for various food products, reflecting the agency’s dedication to ensuring consumers receive what they expect.
This proposed rule isn’t set in stone just yet. The FDA invites public input on these proposed changes. Interested parties have 90 days after the rule’s publication in the Federal Register to submit comments.
Electronic comments can be made online, while written comments can be sent to the Dockets Management Staff at the FDA.
As the FDA seeks to modernize standards for canned tuna, it embraces innovation, transparency, and consumer choice, all while safeguarding the quality and safety of this pantry item. So, if you’re passionate about your tuna, now is the time to weigh in on its future.
