Mexican brands sell soy instead of tuna, PROFECO warns

Mexico’s Federal Consumer Protection Office (PROFECO)

has warned that Mexican tuna brands such as Aurrera, Ke! Precio, Great Value, Ancla, Calmex, El Dorado , and others, have been selling tuna cans containing up to 62% soy .

In a study conducted by the PROFECO from 5 October to 14 December, 2018 , the office found that 18 of all 57 tuna products that were analyzed contained soy, though their labels did not indicate the exact amount thereof.

The worst case was that of Aurrera’s yellowfin tuna can with soy protein , packed in both water and oil, with a net product content of 140 grams and 100 grams of drained solids, out of which 62% was drained soy. “It is safe to say that the consumer is actually buying more soy than tuna.”

The Federal Consumer Protection office also found that there were products that had less net content than their labels indicated.

Some of the brands that sell cans of 140 grams with between 5% and 30% soy and 100 grams of drained solids are:

- Calmex yellowfin tuna in oil, with between 7% and 15% soy.

- Great Value (Walmart) , with between 6% and 16%.

- El Dorado , with between 13% and 22% in water and 21%-44% in oil.

- Ke! Precio , with between 15% and 23% in water, and 11%-25% in oil.

- Chedraui , with 23%-28% soy in oil and 21%-27% in water.

- Ancla , with between 17% and 26% in water and between 10% and 14% in soy.

With this in mind, the PROFECO has recommended users to read the labels carefully and “check for ingredients in the label to see if the product has soy, as well as the product’s expiration date.”

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