Tuna flakes are a dehydrated, fermented, and smoked product made from skipjack tuna or bonito fish. They are often used as a treat for cats, but consistent diets containing tuna can lead to health problems. The production process involves boiling, smoking, and dehydrating the fish, and may include the use of mold spores. Tuna flakes are a traditional Japanese garnish and have a high protein content, but diets composed largely of tuna can lack essential vitamins and minerals.
Tuna flakes are dehydrated, fermented and smoked tuna flakes. Cat owners often serve fish flakes as a special treat or add them to cat food. Sometimes referred to generically as bonito flakes, the product can also be made from the bonito fish, which is an oceanic species related to tuna. Although cats enjoy the aroma and flavor of fish, pets can develop health problems from consistent diets containing tuna. Tuna flakes are part of traditional Japanese cuisine and are often used as a garnish for hot dishes.
Once caught and brought back to shore, skipjack tuna undergoes a long process before becoming tuna flakes. Processors generally remove the fish’s fins, head and organs and cut the body into fillets. These are placed in a basket and placed in boiling water for about an hour. The water temperature remains constant at 194 degrees Fahrenheit (90 degrees Celsius). After this cooking process, the workers remove the bones, fat and scales from the tender fish.
The tuna undergoes a smoking process one or more times. The fillets are exposed to the smoke of castanopsis, oak or pasania wood. After smoking for the desired amount of time, the processors shave the surface of the fish, removing dirt, tar and other debris. The fish is further dehydrated by placing the fillets directly in the sunlight. The producers extract additional moisture from the tuna by spraying it with mold spores.
Mold naturally depletes the fish’s moisture as it grows. After substantial growth occurs, plant employees shave the surface, removing the mold. Workers generally repeat this process until there is no more moisture to support mold growth. At this point the fillets have a hardwood texture. At about a fifth of its original size, tuna now contains about 2% moisture.
The machines then remove the paper-fine chips from the tuna layer by layer. The producers pack the tuna flakes and sell them all over the world. Pet owners generally find tuna flakes in specialty stores that sell pet food and other products. The nutritional value of tuna flakes includes a minimum of 75% protein, 3% fat and 1% fiber. Some products may also be fortified with taurine, an essential nutrient for cats.
Provided as an occasional treat, tuna flakes are relatively harmless. Diets composed largely of tuna lack vitamins E and K. Lack of vitamin E causes a condition known as steatitis or yellow fat disease. A lack of vitamin K prevents normal blood clotting. Tuna also contains high levels of magnesium which can contribute to bladder or kidney stones.
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