Chicken of the Sea Tuna: Why is Tuna Called Chicken?

Chicken of the Sea is well known for producing canned tuna. They should be, they have been producing it since 1917. In the tuna world, they were the equivalent of producing and offering prepackaged boneless salmon at the international space station today.

Chicken of the Sea holds the flag as a pioneer in the tuna canning industry; it was the first to pack it commercially.

Tuna, as a prepared food, has a very mild taste. It has a non-oily taste nor a strong flavor, and it was compared to the taste of chicken. Yes, you heard correctly, the early fishermen compared the taste to chicken. It seems the phrase "tastes like chicken" has been around a long, long time.

Yellowfin tuna also has a white meat compared to chicken in appearance.

And much like chicken, it is reasonable to state that Chicken of the Sea tuna has been an affordable food over the decades. Think tuna sandwiches at lunch and tuna noodle casseroles.

It remains popular and easy to prepare. It has survived the onslaught of bad publicity campaigns of dolphins being caught in giant fishing nets. It has outlived price increases coupled with food inflation prices. Sure, when it was on sale for .88 cents a can five years ago it emptied the local shelves. Fortunately, you can still find it today for about a buck for a can.

And just like chicken, you can really dress it up. You can add different spices such as dill and pepper (let your mind roam), and vegetables to a tuna salad. You can further increase vitamins and taste by adding lettuce, tomato, or cucumber. And don't forget about a tuna melt with cheese. Tunafish is versatile, you can make it fat free or add gobs of designer mayonnaise and chips on the side.

Nothing really exciting happened to canned tuna for decades. It just became a staple of US cupboards and school lunches. Then, in the late '50s and early '60s television became popular. Advertising became necessary and a semi source of amusement.

A chief competitor was "Charlie the Tuna" for Starkist Tuna. Chicken of the Sea held its own with a sexy mermaid icon and the jingle "Ask any mermaid you happen to see -- what's the best tuna -- Chicken of the Sea".

Chicken? Mermaids? No matter, I will buy this tuna if it practices safe industry standards worldwide and the price remains reasonable. Tastes like tuna to me.