Food - Drink
White Tuna Vs. Light: What's The Difference?
By MATTHEW SPINA
Canned tuna is cheap, tasty, and has remained popular for decades, but if you buy the same kind of tuna every time, you might not know that there is much variation in the world of canned tuna. One of the most puzzling differences is white tuna vs. light tuna, and this is what you can expect from products with either of these labels.
White and light tuna come from different species of tuna, with white tuna coming from albacore and light tuna coming from yellowfin, skipjack, or a mix of the two. Albacore or white tuna is the preferred tuna among most American consumers, as it has a meatier texture and a more neutral, less fishy taste compared to light tuna.
Nutritionally, white and light tuna are fairly identical, with only negligibly higher levels of mercury in white tuna. The species of fish used in these products have a similar impact on the environment when caught or farmed, and while both tuna have low mercury levels, multiple cans per week are not safe for children or pregnant women.