# If Subway's Tuna Ain't Tuna, Then What Is It? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** food-cooking\ **Created:** [January 29, 2021, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-subways-tuna-aint-tuna-then-what-is-it/931773 "2021-01-29T14:13:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2021, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-subways-tuna-aint-tuna-then-what-is-it/931773/182 "2021-06-25T04:12:48Z")
I had a Subway tuna sub tonight. Sure seemed indistinguishable from tuna & mayo. I really miss the old wheat bread. ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2021, 10:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-subways-tuna-aint-tuna-then-what-is-it/931773/183 "2021-06-25T10:53:03Z")
Maybe it’s actually chicken that was raised in the sea. [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2h72aXVP8o) ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2021, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-subways-tuna-aint-tuna-then-what-is-it/931773/184 "2021-11-12T13:09:21Z")
[![](https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1183734477899665408/b4CrN_fj.jpg) ](https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1183734477899665408/b4CrN_fj.jpg) The plaintiffs have re-filed their suit a third time, now alleging that the tuna contains a mixture of beef, pork, and chicken DNA. > **[Lawsuit over Subway tuna now says chicken, pork, cattle DNA were detected](https://www.reuters.com/business/retail-consumer/new-lawsuit-over-subway-tuna-says-chicken-pork-cattle-dna-were-detected-2021-11-11/)** > > A new version of a lawsuit accusing Subway of deceiving the public about its tuna products said lab testing shows they contain animal proteins such as chicken, pork and cattle, and not the advertised "100% tuna." Still sounds like bunkum to me, but who wants to tell them why there might be chicken DNA in a mixture of tuna and mayonaise? ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/779978/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats2)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2021, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-subways-tuna-aint-tuna-then-what-is-it/931773/185 "2021-11-12T13:32:19Z")
Well it took me a moment to remember, but yeah… ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2021, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-subways-tuna-aint-tuna-then-what-is-it/931773/186 "2021-11-12T14:01:56Z")
You can tune a piano, but you can’t tuna fish? I’m sure you could find anything in a sample if you wanted to and did the test in a butcher shop. ---
**Author:** ![naita](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naita/32/5862_2.png) [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2021, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-subways-tuna-aint-tuna-then-what-is-it/931773/187 "2021-11-12T14:06:54Z")
I believe they have shopped around and found a lab that will write a report based on tests that are not appropriate for cooked products. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2021, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-subways-tuna-aint-tuna-then-what-is-it/931773/188 "2021-11-12T14:41:10Z")
That sort of legalistic nitpickery gets old (not criticizing you, @garygnu), as it’s always done with the intent of throwing shade on whatever it is. Like someone will decide to bitch about sausages, and claim “They’re only 80% meat!” with the implication that 20% is leftover barbershop floor hair, or some other repulsive substance. But when you dig in, it turns out that they’re 80% meat, 10% water, 3% salt, 2% spices and 5% stuff like sugar, jalapenos, cheese, etc… and nothing weird whatsoever. I would guess that if you took just about any commercially prepared ground taco beef product, it would be right about 88% meat, with the remainder being water, spices, salt, and something like cornstarch that would allow the spices to have a somewhat “saucy” consistency allowing it to coat the ground beef pieces. ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/779978/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats2)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2021, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-subways-tuna-aint-tuna-then-what-is-it/931773/189 "2021-11-12T15:27:44Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > The plaintiffs have re-filed their suit a third time, now alleging that the tuna contains a mixture of beef, pork, and chicken DNA. I can see that pork DNA might raise some religious ire in certain circles. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2021, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-subways-tuna-aint-tuna-then-what-is-it/931773/190 "2021-11-12T15:30:48Z")
Perhaps some of the foreign DNA came from the knife or spatula used when the sandwich was made? If it wasn’t totally clean, it might have transferred some pork or beef DNA to the tuna salad? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2021, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-subways-tuna-aint-tuna-then-what-is-it/931773/191 "2021-11-12T15:45:37Z")
Maybe it contains [porkfish](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anisotremus_virginicus). ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2021, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-subways-tuna-aint-tuna-then-what-is-it/931773/192 "2021-11-12T15:49:53Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Perhaps some of the foreign DNA came from the knife or spatula used when the sandwich was made? If it wasn’t totally clean, it might have transferred some pork or beef DNA to the tuna salad? That’s what I assumed–the foods are all in trays right next to each other, and a trace amount of cross-contamination seems inevitable. Folks who are super-strict about avoiding pork aren’t eating at Subway, as this sort of cross-contamination is well-known; they’re eating in places with kosher/halal kitchens. ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/779978/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats2)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2021, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-subways-tuna-aint-tuna-then-what-is-it/931773/193 "2021-11-12T16:23:38Z")
What are the percentages of DNA here? The article says 19 out of the 20 samples had “no detectable tuna DNA sequences”. What? Is this because of breakdown during cooking? I am hard pressed to believe that Subway would present something as tuna with NO tuna at all in the mix. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2021, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-subways-tuna-aint-tuna-then-what-is-it/931773/194 "2021-11-12T16:25:03Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > > [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > > > Perhaps some of the foreign DNA came from the knife or spatula used when the sandwich was made? If it wasn’t totally clean, it might have transferred some pork or beef DNA to the tuna salad? > > That’s what I assumed–the foods are all in trays right next to each other, and a trace amount of cross-contamination seems inevitable. Folks who are super-strict about avoiding pork aren’t eating at Subway, as this sort of cross-contamination is well-known; they’re eating in places with kosher/halal kitchens. I read someplace that Subway stores get the tuna in large plastic bags. The best way to test it would be to get one of these bags, still sealed, and send it out for testing. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2021, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-subways-tuna-aint-tuna-then-what-is-it/931773/195 "2021-11-12T16:44:47Z")
> [@Two\_Many\_Cats2](#): > > What? Is this because of breakdown during cooking? Yup. This is pretty much it. Process flesh by cooking or mixing with other ingredients and proteins will undergo chemical reactions, some of which will make DNA unreadable. The accusation doesn’t even make sense. Why set up a nefarious plot when adulterating the supply chain is almost certainly more expensive than using a regular and plentiful source of tuna? It costs them less to serve tuna. Their suppliers might not be careful about letting other fish into their nets but mixing in pork and beef? To what end? It’s like the accusations of various fast food places using horse meat instead of beef. Beef is cheap. Horse meat is not and you can’t get nearly the same quantities anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Folly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folly/32/3219_2.png) [@Folly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folly)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2021, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-subways-tuna-aint-tuna-then-what-is-it/931773/196 "2021-11-12T16:50:32Z")
> [@Great\_Antibob](#): > > It’s like the accusations of various fast food places using horse meat instead of beef Or worms. Obviously they didn’t bother price checking nightcrawlers/lb. ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2021, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-subways-tuna-aint-tuna-then-what-is-it/931773/197 "2021-11-12T19:10:06Z")
> [@Folly](#): > > Or worms. Obviously they didn’t bother price checking nightcrawlers/lb. Nightcrawlers are a niche specialty worm. You’re obviously unaware of the secret McDonald’s worm ranches, where the poor creatures are jammed into 0.5x0.5x4.0 inch cages and force fed the garbage from all the corporate McDonald’s restaurants, and then ground up live and mixed into the ‘meat’ formed into patties and shipped out. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2021, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-subways-tuna-aint-tuna-then-what-is-it/931773/198 "2021-11-12T20:02:04Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > I read someplace that Subway stores get the tuna in large plastic bags. It’s a foil pouch: > [@If Subway's Tuna Ain't Tuna, Then What Is It?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-subways-tuna-aint-tuna-then-what-is-it/931773/140): > > I saw this posted this morning (photo of Subway tuna pouch): [209 votes and 31 comments so far on Reddit] ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2021, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-subways-tuna-aint-tuna-then-what-is-it/931773/199 "2021-11-12T20:03:04Z")
So if someone can get an intact foil pouch and send that out for testing, we could at least be sure there’s no contamination from other stuff in the store. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.E](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.e/32/8932_2.png) [@Mr.E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.E)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2021, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-subways-tuna-aint-tuna-then-what-is-it/931773/200 "2021-11-12T20:55:49Z")
> [@Folly](#): > > > [@Bootb](#): > > > > First we have to know whether or not the civet cat handlers are unionized. > > Hmm… we could run a giant magnet over them i guess. Since we’re resurrecting old threads I’m just mad this joke didn’t get the attention it deserved. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2021, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-subways-tuna-aint-tuna-then-what-is-it/931773/201 "2021-11-12T21:31:35Z")
Wow! Very Worm Ourboros, or like studying to become Education faculty. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-subways-tuna-aint-tuna-then-what-is-it/931773.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-subways-tuna-aint-tuna-then-what-is-it/931773.md?page=11)