Understanding Tuna: The Hidden Truth Behind Your Favorite Fish
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Chapter 1: The Tuna Assignment
For this task, locate a can of tuna. Investigate its origins and assess your findings. Do you think you can accomplish this? Where would you even begin?
In my recent high school biology class, I presented this challenge to my students. At first glance, it may seem trivial—who really cares about tuna, right? However, our week kicked off with an article discussing Subway’s legal troubles in California over tuna sandwiches that allegedly didn’t contain any fish DNA. Instead of tuna, 19 out of 20 tested sandwiches contained DNA from pork, poultry, and beef.
How does this make you feel? Are you disgusted or indifferent? What about my students?
I handed out index cards for them to express their feelings about the article, rating their opinions on a scale from 1 (I care a LOT) to 5 (I don’t care AT ALL). As I reviewed their responses, opinions were evenly split. To my surprise, some students were quite passionate about the issue, arguing the importance of food authenticity, while others dismissed the concern entirely, stating, “It’s a free country. If someone chooses to buy tuna at Subway, they’re just naive.”
Before I could share my own thoughts, the class ended. While I believe it's unacceptable to mislabel products, I also understand that with numerous issues facing us today, not all of them warrant outrage.
Section 1.1: Tracing the Origins of Tuna
The following day, I brought several cans of tuna from home and encouraged students to investigate their origins.
Where does it come from? Is it truly tuna?
We examined the labels wrapped around the cans, which contained a surprising amount of information in a small area. From logos and company names to nutritional facts and tracking numbers, we found nearly 50 pieces of data on one label alone.
Unfortunately, much of this information turned out to be irrelevant. We decided to focus on the useful elements: company names, contact details, and trademarks, while disregarding marketing fluff.
That evening, I tasked the students with locating their own cans of tuna to bring to class the next day, challenging them to uncover the true source of the tuna.
Section 1.2: The Shift in Learning
A parent reached out to me the next day, expressing her son’s confusion about the assignment and questioning its purpose. Reflecting on her perspective, I realized that the educational landscape has dramatically changed.
In the past, finding the right answers was crucial. However, in 2021, the emphasis has shifted towards the importance of asking questions and the learning process itself.
When I was in fourth grade, my research involved copying information from an encyclopedia, and that was considered sufficient. Those days, while simpler, are long gone.
Chapter 2: The Research Journey
The first video delves into the challenges and implications of consuming Bluefin tuna, highlighting the environmental impact of overfishing and the critical state of marine ecosystems.
After school, I assisted a student with his tuna assignment. Together, we devised a strategy: first, he would check the traceability website, then look up the 'Dolphin-Safe' logo, and finally call customer service.
The company’s website stated that the tuna was sourced from the Indian Ocean using dolphin-safe techniques. However, upon investigating the dolphin-safe logo, he discovered that the tuna company was embroiled in a lawsuit regarding misleading claims about their practices.
Finally, he nervously called customer service. Despite his apprehension, he successfully navigated the conversation, with me guiding him through questions about the tuna’s origins and fishing methods.
After hanging up, he was thrilled to have completed the call. However, when he began writing his summary, he found discrepancies between what the customer service representative and the website had stated about the tuna's source.
In conclusion, there’s no definitive answer.
Section 2.1: Reflections on Trust and Transparency
“So, what should I write?” he asked me the next day.
I explained that the assignment was never solely about the tuna. It was about the learning journey: the research process and how it shaped his understanding of information.
He articulated, “I learned that I can’t blindly trust product labels because there’s often more to the story.”
“Good,” I said, “Write about that.”
Are these answers? Perhaps. Maybe they don’t even matter.
You can explore tracing your own tuna at:
Or read more about the realities of teaching in 2021 in the following video:
This video explores the evolving challenges and rewards of teaching in today’s world, emphasizing the importance of adaptability and lifelong learning.
Stay curious, keep questioning, and perhaps think twice before ordering tuna at Subway.