Canning and Fish Packaging Technology

Unit 6 - Canning of commercially important fishes and shellfishes

6.2.2.3.Various styles of packing of tuna meat in cans
Tuna meat is packed in cans in various styles.

• Solid pack consist of cleaned loins cut in transverse segment suitable for packing in one layer based on can size without placing any transverse segment parallel to can ends.
• Chunk style consists of mixture of pieces of tuna in which 50% is the pressed loins and the rest may be smaller pieces of ½” size or smaller.
• Grated style: Tuna meat is reduced in size using a grinder to uniform size of less than ½”. The particle must be discrete and should not become a paste.
• Flakes – small meat chunks which are obtained during grating of tuna meat.

The filling medium used for tuna may be refined vegetable oil or brine.
Specific problem/spoilage associated with canned tuna is the green meat formation which is related to freshness of raw material.