Bumble Bee Home Bumble Bee Home About Bumble Bee Careers & Job Opportunities Products Product Finder / Shop Online Recipes Tuna School FAQs Press Room
Fishing For Answers?


What are the benefits of eating canned tuna?
What is Bumble Bee’s Dolphin safe policy?
What does dolphin safe mean?
Why is my solid white tuna not always the color "white"?
How long are canned and pouched seafood products edible?
Why do the nutritional values in the nutrition fact panel on my cans of tuna differ?
Why did I find a bone in my tuna?
Why are there bones & skin in my can of Salmon?
Why does Bumble Bee add vegetable broth to canned tuna?
What are the ingredients in the vegetable broth in canned tuna?
Are Bumble Bee’s products gluten free?
Is there mercury in canned tuna?
What is mercury?
How much mercury is in canned tuna?
What is Omega-3?
What is Hydrolyzed Protein?
What are Trans Fats or Trans Fatty Acids?
Are there any Trans Fats in Bumble Bee products?
Why can't I find Libby's Seafood products any more?
I found something that looks like glass in my canned seafood, what is it?
Is there MSG in tuna?
Is Bumble Bee Salmon packed with wild (ocean-caught) salmon or farm-raised salmon?

What are the benefits of eating canned tuna?

Canned tuna is an excellent source of high quality protein, vitamins and minerals and is low in saturated fat.

For Nutrition Information, go to your favorite Bumble Bee Tuna item under the "Products" section and click on Nutrition and Size Information.
back to top

What is Bumble Bee’s Dolphin safe policy?

Bumble Bee Foods, LLC remains fully committed to the 100% dolphin-safe policy we implemented in April 1990. This policy guarantees the following:

-Bumble Bee will not purchase tuna from vessels that net fish associated with dolphins. Our purchasing agreements require certification of dolphin-safe fishing practices from all tuna suppliers.

-Bumble Bee will not purchase tuna caught with gill or drift nets as use of these nets can sometimes entrap dolphins, other marine mammals, or birds.

The U.S. Government Dolphin-Safe Regulations are in the process of being modified through the International Dolphin Conservation Program. The new regulations will allow for a less stringent U.S. Dolphin-Safe Regulation.

Despite the new, less stringent "compliance" criteria, Bumble Bee remains committed to and in compliance with a "no encirclement" policy. The commitment of Bumble Bee to dolphin safety will remain unchanged regardless of any changes to the dolphin-safe law.

We continue to strictly adhere to our 100% dolphin-safe policy.
back to top

What does dolphin safe mean?

Thank you for your interest in the dolphin-safe policy of Bumble Bee Foods, LLC. We are pleased to inform you that Earth Island Institute has confirmed our dolphin-safe policy, and it is approved by several conservation organizations. We have developed open lines of communication with the environmental community on this issue.

Dolphin-safe is defined by the following factors:

- Drift nets are not used.
- There are no purse seine sets made on dolphin through an entire fishing trip.
- An observer from the National Marine Fishery Service and/or the Inter American Tropical Tuna Commission certifies fishing vessels and trips in the Eastern Tropical Pacific.

Fishing methods considered dolphin-safe are long line, pole and line, and the purse seine method in the Eastern Tropical Pacific with certification only.

All of our tuna products on the shelf today are certifiably dolphin-safe and the labeling on our products proudly don the “dolphin-safe” indication symbol.
back to top

Why is my solid white tuna not always the color "white"?

Albacore is classified as "white" tuna, but there are several factors, which can produce visible can-to-can variations in color. It has been determined through research and processing experience that factors such as location where caught, water depth and temperature, and diet of the fish can affect the appearance, odor, flavor, and /or texture of the fish. This natural variation in raw fish is common to the tuna industry and is sometimes reflected in the finished product. For example, the color of albacore can vary from nearly sheer to light pink, beige, or tan and still meet established color requirements. Also, fish that have a slightly softer texture than others break up more easily during and after canning, which can affect the appearance of the finished product. You can be sure, however, that only good quality fish are used in Bumble Bee products.
back to top

How long are canned and pouched seafood products edible?

Commercially canned (tuna, salmon, sardines, clams, oysters, crabmeat, shrimp, scallops, jack mackerel) or pouched (tuna, salmon) products may be safely stored for several years as long as the cans or pouches are not bulged, leaking, or otherwise damaged and the seams are intact. (If these conditions are present, the product should of course, not be consumed.) Palatability (taste), however, may be affected over prolonged time periods, especially under adverse storage conditions. For example, the palatability of product stored at high temperatures will be adversely affected during a shorter time frame than product stored at moderate or cool temperatures. It is recommended, therefore, that canned or pouched seafood inventories be rotated every one to two years to assure the best quality. It is not considered advisable to freeze seafood products in unopened cans or pouches. However, once cans or pouches are opened, any unused contents should be immediately refrigerated and utilized within one to two days. Opened product can also be transferred to, and frozen in plastic bags or other containers suitable for freezing.
back to top

Why do the nutritional values in the nutrition fact panel on my cans of tuna differ?

Differences in catch location, water depth/temperature, and diet of the fish can affect the nutritional content of albacore. It has been specifically demonstrated that the fat content of smaller albacore caught close to the surface of the water is generally higher than for large fish caught in deeper water. To meet the ongoing demand for albacore products, fish from both types of catch locations must be utilized. Two separate label declarations have, therefore, been developed to ensure Bumble Bee products are accurately labeled as to nutritional content. You will note, however, that regardless of source, the albacore we use is an excellent source of protein. You also may be interested to know that omega-3 fatty acids account for approximately 30% of the fat in albacore tuna packed in water.
back to top

Why did I find a bone in my tuna?

Bones are occasionally present in canned tuna although every reasonable effort is made to remove them. Highly trained personnel trim the loins entirely by hand. After this process, the loins are inspected several times for the presence of any pieces which may have been missed. Through this series of inspection steps, we are able to remove nearly 100% of all bones. On occasion, however, a bone is embedded in the loin and may be overlooked. The high heat sterilization process, after the fish has been canned, will normally soften them to the point where they will easily crumble.
back to top

Why are there bones & skin in my can of Salmon?

The size and quantity of bones and skin in canned salmon will vary from can to can depending on the size of the fish. The high heat sterilization process softens them to the point where they can be easily mashed and blended into salmon salads, casseroles, and other delicious meals. There is no waste in canned salmon -- the liquid, skin, and bones are all edible and supply important nutrients such as calcium and phosphorus.

For your convenience, we also produce a Boneless, Skinless line of Salmon products.
back to top

Why does Bumble Bee add vegetable broth to canned tuna?

Vegetable Broth is added to our canned tuna products as an optional flavoring ingredient. It enhances the flavor of tuna, resulting in a more mild, delicate taste.
back to top

What are the ingredients in the vegetable broth in canned tuna?

The broth currently used is derived from two or more of the following vegetables: beans, peas, celery, green & red bell peppers, onions, parsley, garlic or carrots. The broth also generally contains a soy protein, which is why some of our products declare, "Contains soy."
back to top

Are Bumble Bee’s products gluten free?

All our Bumble Bee Brand canned seafood products are gluten free. However, the crackers contained within our Bumble Bee Brand Ready-to-Eat salads & Crackers, contain wheat flour.
back to top

Is there mercury in canned tuna?

Many types of seafood contain minute amounts of mercury called “methyl mercury,” including tuna. The mercury level depends on the size and age of the fish, and the area of the catch. Commercial tuna is caught in the ocean far away from coastal areas where industrial discharges or emissions and the use of chemical compounds containing mercurials can pollute the waters. That fact, combined with the essentially constant levels of mercury in tuna over the past 100 years, suggest that the miniscule amount of mercury that does exist in tuna is naturally occurring.
back to top

What is mercury?

Mercury occurs naturally in the environment and is a basic element present in rocks, soil, water, air and living organisms. It is a metal, but unlike other metals, it is most often seen in its liquid state.
back to top

How much mercury is in canned tuna?

Nearly all fish contain traces of methyl mercury. Canned tuna meets all health and safety standards set by the FDA, which has established the maximum safe level of methyl mercury allowed in commercial seafood at 1.0 parts per million. In the latest product survey by the FDA, canned light meat tuna averaged less than an eighth of that amount, and canned albacore tuna averaged about a third of the maximum safe level set by the FDA. In the most comprehensive study ever conducted on the subject, the evidence showed that fetal exposure to methyl mercury from fish consumption during pregnancy (at the consumption levels seen in most parts of the world and certainly in the U.S.) does not have measurable cognitive or behavioral effects later in childhood.

The recent government advisory advises that a well-balanced diet includes a variety of fish and shellfish that can contribute to heart health and children's proper growth and development. Pregnant women, nursing mothers and young children in particular, should include fish or shellfish in their diets due to the many nutritional benefits. The government's advisory also makes it clear that pregnant and nursing women can safely consume albacore as one of their fish choices. Specifically, the new advisory tells pregnant women they can safely eat up to six ounces of albacore a week, which translates into three full servings. You can continue to eat up to twelve ounces of a variety of fish (such as our light meat tuna) and shellfish each week.
back to top

What is Omega-3?

Omega-3 fatty acids are polyunsaturated fatty acids that occur predominantly in deep-sea saltwater fish. Consult your doctor about the health benefits of adding Omega-3 fatty acid to your diet. Bumble Bee products contain the following amount of Omega-3 Fatty Acids per serving:
  • Red (Sockeye) Pink, Medium Red (Coho), Blueback Salmon - 1.0g/63g serving
  • Keta (Chum) Salmon - 0.5g/63g serving
  • Sardines - 1.0g/56g serving
  • Jack Mackerel - 1.0g/56g serving
back to top

What is Hydrolyzed Protein?

Hydrolyzed protein is made up of hydrolyzed casein, a primary constituent protein in milk, and hydrolyzed soy protein, protein taken from soy. Bumble Bee no longer uses hydrolyzed protein in any of our seafood products.
back to top

What are Trans Fats or Trans Fatty Acids?

Trans fats (also known as trans fatty acids) are a specific type of fat formed when food manufacturers turn liquid oils into solid fats like shortening and hard margarine. However, a small amount of trans fat is found naturally, primarily in some animal-based foods.

Trans fats behave like saturated fat by raising low-density lipoprotein (LDL or "bad") cholesterol that increases your risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). Trans fats can be found in some of the same foods as saturated fat, such as vegetable shortenings, some margarines, crackers, candies, cookies, snack foods, fried foods, baked goods, salad dressings, and other processed foods made with partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.
back to top

Are there any Trans Fats in Bumble Bee seafood products?

Bumble Bee's seafood products (tuna, salmon, sardines, clams, oysters, crabmeat, shrimp, scallops, jack mackerel, anchovies) contain 0g Trans fats per serving.

There is a total of 0.5g trans fat in the 6 crackers found in our Ready to Eat salad kits.

For additional Nutrition Information, go to your favorite Bumble Bee Item in the "Products" Section and click on Nutrition and Size Information.
back to top

Why can't I find Libby's Seafood products any more?

Libby's Premium Tuna and Salmon have long been packed by Bumble Bee...and now they are exclusively available under the Bumble Bee label. The same consistent premium quality seafood products that you've enjoyed with Libby's you can expect from Bumble Bee. In fact, Bumble Bee has been producing and packing Libby's brand products for many years. It is simply now more efficient to sell all seafood products under the Bumble Bee label. As the national leader in canned seafood, you can depend on Bumble Bee to meet or exceed the quality standards of competitive brands.
back to top

I found something that looks like glass in my canned seafood, what is it?

Don't be alarmed by glass-like crystals that you may find in your canned seafood. They are simply Struvite (magnesium ammonium phosphate), a naturally occurring mineral, that develops in the can during storage. They are sometimes present as small crystals that impart a grittiness to the product or they may occur as crystals 5-8 mm long. Struvite is not harmful and will readily dissolve in the digestive juices of the stomach.

How can struvite be distinguished from glass? Place crystals in a few drops of hot vinegar and they will gradually dissolve, while glass will not.

Struvite is extremely rare. For example, the incidence of struvite in our sockeye salmon is 2.4 in 1,000,000 cans.

If you have any concerns or questions about struvite, please don't hesitate to contact us. We are more than happy to answer your questions and always make it a priority to ensure that our customers are satisfied.
back to top

Is there MSG in tuna?

MSG (mono sodium glutamate): is not added to our products (is not in the Vegetable Broth).
back to top

Is Bumble Bee Salmon packed with wild (ocean-caught) salmon or farm-raised salmon?

All of Bumble Bee's traditional skin-on, bone-in salmon products, as well as our premium skinless and boneless salmon packed in water and pouched salmon products, are wild salmon, caught in the open ocean or in the clean inlets and bays of Alaska. This includes all salmon originating from Alaska (Product of USA), Canada and Thailand.

Only our premium Bumble Bee Skinless and Boneless Smoked Salmon in Oil (which has very limited distribution) is packed with farm-raised salmon from Chile. While the recent reports of contaminants within farmed salmon have received a lot of media attention, the fact remains that these levels are well below the PCB tolerances set by the Food & Drug Administration.

For additional information on wild or farm-raised salmon, click on the following links:

Medical, health and food safety experts advise reading past the headlines in the new news about farmed salmon.
http://www.salmonoftheamericas.com/topic_01_04_press.html

PCBs in Salmon FAQs
Click here to download the PCBs in Salmon FAQ document in PDF format.
To view this document you will need Adobe Acrobat. Click here to download your free copy.

To access the FDA website, click on:
http://www.fda.gov
back to top

Bumble Bee
© 2006 Bumble Bee Foods, LLC Privacy Policy Terms and Conditions Contact Bumble Bee
Listen to the Jingle Listen to the Jingle Watch the Commercial Watch the Commercial