Abstract
The composition of processed food is a concern of consumers, of the fishery industry and governmental agencies. The specific composition of canned tuna in three Brazilian brands was evaluated using Single-Strand Conformational Polymorphism (SSCP) of the cytochrome b gene by comparison with patterns of fresh tuna samples and tuna-related species landed at Santa Catarina ports (South Brazil). Thirteen SSCP patterns were obtained from fresh samples, and the specific variety was confirmed by analyzing their sequences. Inconsistencies were found in the fishery statistics of Auxis thazard thazard and Scomber japonicus reported from Brazilian ports, where fresh samples instead were represented mostly by Auxis rochei rochei and Scomber colias. A case of introgression was detected between A. t. thazard and Katsuwonus pelamis. The skipjack tuna K. pelamis composed seven out of eight of the processed tuna products analyzed, and two brands showed products containing a mixture of tuna (K. pelamis or Thunnus albacares) and the less commercially valuable bonito meat (A. t. thazard), which reinforces the need for the control of canned tuna in the Brazilian market.
Highlights
In 2009, marine fishing production in Brazil reached 585,671 tons, and 26.8% of the total catch was landed in Santa Catarina State (South Brazil) ports (MPA, 2011)
The skipjack tuna K. pelamis composed seven out of eight of the processed tuna products analyzed, and two brands showed products containing a mixture of tuna (K. pelamis or Thunnus albacares) and the less commercially valuable bonito meat (A. t. thazard), which reinforces the need for the control of canned tuna in the Brazilian market
Most species showed a single Single-Strand Conformational Polymorphism (SSCP) pattern, but three SSCP patterns were identified for the skipjack tuna K. pelamis (Kpel-1-BR, Kpel-2-BR and Kpel-3-BR); three SSCP patterns were identified for the presumed frigate mackerel A. t. thazard (Atha-1-BR, Atha2-BR and Atha-3-BR); (Fig. 2) and two patterns were identified for the presumed S. japonicus (Sjap-1-BR and Sjap-2-BR) (Fig. 1)
Summary
In 2009, marine fishing production in Brazil reached 585,671 tons, and 26.8% of the total catch was landed in Santa Catarina State (South Brazil) ports (MPA, 2011). The fishery industries of Santa Catarina developed an extensive market for canned tuna. Brazilian canned tuna production in 2009 was 1,240,815 tons, with an annual consumption of 9.03 kg/individual/year and an increasing trend in the last several years (MPA, 2011). Brazilian governmental agencies are in charge of controlling which species are used in canned food products. In the case of processed tuna products, bonitos and other species of lower market value may be used instead of the product description declared on the labels (Botti e Giuffra, 2010). Bonito species are not as popular with consumers as other tuna; they have a much lower market price.
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