Tuna Surprise! It's Not Tuna

Among bike riders the world over a difference exists between those of us who pedal.  Some do it for fun, some do it for pain.  The SBT crew rides for fun and fitness, others--they call themselves cyclists--ride for the pain.  They go for miles at high speeds, feeling the burn.  We all know the cyclists out there (the Dutch call them “wheel runners”).  The SBT crew knows that people ride for any number of reasons but one thing we all may have in common is trying to eat a healthy diet.  We recently uncovered some news that may help all bicycling people make a smart food choice. 

 

Protein is good for you.  Lean meats are important.  A solid meal rife with protein provides beneficial amino acids—the building blocks of muscle.  For the protein-conscience eater the top foods are turkey, fish, beans, tofu, eggs, yogurt and cheese.  They are all fairly straightforward meal choices.  Except for one--we raise an eyebrow of doubt at fish.  And the fish in question is tuna.

The Atlantic recently covered a report noting the frequent mislabeling of tuna.  As it turns out, tuna for all intents and purposes, is not tuna.  It is escolar, a fish found in most of the world’s oceans.  For quite some time now escolar has been mislabeled as tuna.  The Atlantic researchers discovered that 59% of all tuna consumed in the US is escolar.  According to The Atlantic statistics, grocery stores mislabel tuna 18% of the time and restaurants get it wrong 38% of the time.  But the biggest mislabeler of tuna are sushi establishments, 74% of all “tuna” served in sushi restaurants is not tuna.  The Atlantic also noted, “In Chicago, Austin, New York, and Washington DC, every single sushi restaurant sampled sold mislabeled tuna.”

Why escolar?  That is easy, they are plentiful, tuna not so much.  Since 1900 tuna stocks in the Atlantic Ocean have dropped a staggering 83% according to Norwegian researchers. 

Sometimes snapper is substituted for tuna but mainly—84% of the time—it is actually escolar.  And escolar is not exactly safe to consume.  It is an oily fish and that oil can lead to some stomach distress because the inner workings of humans tend to fight back when oils are introduced.  The condition is known by the fancy term: keriorrhea which is diarrhea, headaches, cramps and “get me to the bowl.”  The Japanese consider the fish toxic and it has been banned in the country since 1977.  That is saying something because the Japanese will eat just about anything that comes from the sea.   Some fancy marketing has been developed but don’t be fooled.  Much like the Chinese gooseberry became the kiwi, the escolar is slowly becoming “super white tuna.”  

Not a tuna

Legislation to ban the catch of the fish in the U.S. has stalled so the likelihood of the average American consuming escolar is real, especially those of us who fancy some sushi.  Our best advice may be for our dear readers to revisit our post “Will Ride for Pizza” from back in December.   

If you see someone suffering from keriorrhea point them in the direction of refuge and get out of the way.  

Please visit our website at www.stickybottleteam.net for other road cycling and bike riding information.