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Americans eat about one billion pounds of canned and pouched tuna annually. The many varieties are distinguished by the type of meat, "white" or "light," packed in water or oil. In the U.S., most canned tuna is available as either "solid" or "chunk." According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) - which set strict definitions for how canned tuna is marketed - the difference between "solid" and "chunk" is as follows:

• Solid, also called "fancy" — a solid portion of a loin, cut to fit the can, and packed in one layer.
• Chunk — a mixture of cut pieces of varying sizes.

Chunk, light meat in water is the most popular light meat pack. The source of most chunk, light meat is Skipjack, although other species of tuna can be added. Albacore, which is the only tuna species that can be called "white," is packed almost exclusively in water in solid form.

Browse this section of our Web site to learn more about canned tuna and why it is an important part of a balanced diet.

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