Uncovering the Origins of Ancla Tuna

Tuna is one of the most popular and commonly eaten fish worldwide. From tuna melts to tuna salad, this versatile and healthy fish has become a staple food source for many. But with so many different brands and types of tuna on the market, have you ever wondered exactly where your tuna comes from?

One of the major canned tuna brands in the United States is Ancla. Their chunk light tuna packed in water is a familiar sight on supermarket shelves across the country. But Ancla tuna doesn’t actually originate in the US. In this article we’ll take a closer look at Ancla’s supply chain and manufacturing process to uncover where this canned tuna really comes from.

Ancla Tuna’s Main Ingredient – Light Meat Tuna

The first step to understanding where Ancla tuna comes from is looking at the main ingredient – light meat tuna. Ancla chunk light tuna gets its name from using only the lighter color tuna meat from the fish Skipjack and yellowfin are two common species used for canned light meat tuna

These tuna species are prevalent in tropical and subtropical waters around the world. Skipjack tuna are found widely in the Pacific Atlantic and Indian Oceans. Yellowfin tuna inhabit offshore waters but are also common in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean.

So while light meat tuna could come from many regions, there are certain hot spots for commercial tuna fishing. The Western and Central Pacific Ocean accounts for over half of the global tuna catch, most of which comes from the waters around Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Thailand.

This means Ancla’s light meat tuna likely originates from one of these major fishing areas in the Pacific before getting shipped out for canning and processing.

From Fishing Grounds to the Cannery

Once the tuna has been caught, it gets transported to the cannery for packing. Based on the country codes printed on Ancla’s tuna cans, we know their processing facility is located in Mexico.

Ancla’s parent company, Grupomar, operates a large tuna cannery in Mazatlan, Mexico. This coastal city sits on the Pacific coastline in the state of Sinaloa. Its prime oceanfront location and proximity to tuna fishing hotspots makes it an ideal place for receiving fresh catch.

The tuna that arrives to the Mazatlan cannery would then be prepped and packed into cans. Since the raw light meat tuna already has a long journey from the fishing grounds, keeping transport to the cannery short helps maintain quality.

Canning Process and Additional Ingredients

Inside Ancla’s Mazatlan cannery, the tuna goes through a thorough cleaning, cooking, and canning process before getting sealed and shipped out. Once the raw tuna is received, it gets cleaned, sorted, and prepped for cooking.

The tuna loins then get briefly steam cooked at low temperatures before being cooled. This heat process helps kill any bacteria while still retaining moisture and texture.

After cooking, workers begin packing the sterilized cans. Ancla tuna contains just a few additional ingredients – water, vegetable broth, soy fiber, textured soy protein concentrate, and salt. The vegetable broth likely contains ingredients like carrots, onions, and celery.

Textured soy protein helps add back some of the protein lost from draining the cans while also giving the texture a boost. And a small amount of salt is added for flavor.

The cans are then sealed and sterilized by heating to 250°F for over 2 hours. This high-temperature sterilization step gives the tuna an extended shelf life of 3 to 5 years. Once safely sealed and sterilized, the cans are ready for labeling and shipping.

Distribution and Sales in the U.S.

Once packed, the Ancla tuna cans are trucked from the Mazatlan cannery to various distribution centers. From there, the cans make their way to retail stores across the United States.

Ancla sells their tuna products through major grocery store chains like Kroger, Safeway, Publix, and Albertsons. So while the journey starts thousands of miles away in the Pacific Ocean, that little blue can of Ancla tuna on your local market shelf took quite the voyage to get there.

Tracing Sustainable Tuna from Ocean to Pantry

Understanding where tuna comes from and how it gets canned helps consumers make informed choices. Ancla claims to source 100% dolphin-safe certified tuna and their factory runs on 80% hydroelectric power.

However, more transparency around fishing regions and sustainability practices would allow consumers to better support ethical tuna fishing. Tracing tuna from specific fisheries through each step of the supply chain ensures fair labor practices and environmental responsibility from ocean to pantry.

So next time you grab a can of Ancla tuna off the shelf, you can appreciate the long journey it took to get there. While tuna is a globally sourced product, we as consumers have a responsibility to keep the fish and workers behind our food in mind. Knowing where your tuna comes from empowers you to make choices that help protect our shared oceans and the people that work hard to supply this kitchen staple around the world.