{{short description|Type of sandwich}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2015}} {{Infobox food | name = Tuna fish sandwich | image = File:Tuna fish sandwiches for the National School Lunch Program.jpg | caption = Tuna fish sandwich | alternate_name = Tuna salad sandwich, tuna sandwich | country = Various | region = | creator = | course = Lunch | type = Sandwich | served = | main_ingredient = Tuna salad, mayonnaise | variations = Tuna boat, tuna melt | calories = | other = |minor_ingredient = Celery, onion, lettuce, tomato }} A '''tuna fish sandwich''', also known as a '''tuna salad sandwich''' or a '''tuna sandwich''', is a sandwich made from canned tuna—usually made into a tuna salad by adding mayonnaise, and sometimes other ingredients such as celery or onion—as well as other common fruits and vegetables used to flavour sandwiches. It is commonly served on sliced bread.
Variations include the '''tuna boat''' (served on a bun or roll) and the '''tuna melt''' (served with melted cheese).
In the United States, 52 percent of canned tuna is used for sandwiches.<ref>{{cite web | url =http://www.aboutseafood.com/tuna-council-3/tuna-facts/| title =Tuna Facts | last = | first = | date =2021 | website =AboutSeafood.com | publisher =National Fisheries Institute | access-date = April 20, 2021| quote = }}</ref> The tuna sandwich has been called "the mainstay of almost everyone's American childhood."<ref name=NYT2/>
==History==
The dish's popularity started to climb in the early twentieth century, but tuna sandwiches were already being served in nineteenth-century homes. In 1893, Dell Montjoy Bradley, a New York socialite,<ref>{{cite news | last = | first = | title =Follows Wife In Death.; A.O. Bradley Expires Two Days After His Wife in Santa Barbara. | newspaper =New York Times | location = | pages = | language = | publisher = | date =December 22, 1911| url =https://www.nytimes.com/1911/12/22/archives/follows-wife-in-death-ao-bradley-expires-two-days-after-his-wife-in.html | accessdate =April 17, 2021 }}</ref> wrote a gourmet cookbook called ''Beverages and Sandwiches for Your Husband's Friends''. She included a recipe for a sandwich made out of imported tuna that she described using the Italian word "tonno."<ref>{{cite book | last =Bradley| first =Dell Montjoy |authorlink = | title = Beverages and Sandwiches For Your Husband's Friends: By One Who Knows| publisher =Brentano's | series = | volume = | edition = | date =1893 | location =New York | pages =38 | language = | url =https://openlibrary.org/works/OL12367185W/Beverages_and_sandwiches_for_your_husband%27s_friends?edition=beveragessandwic00brad | doi = | id = | isbn = | quote=}}</ref><ref>{{cite book | last =Smith | first =Andrew F. | authorlink = | title =American Tuna: The Rise and Fall of an Improbable Food| publisher =University of California Press| series = | volume = | edition = | date = 8 August 2012| location = | pages =78 | language = | doi = | id = | isbn =9780520261846 | quote=}} - [https://books.google.com/books?id=AR_Zq_GIHtAC See profile at] Google Books</ref>
The sandwich is "emblematic of America’s working-class spirit" and its status "rests on three post–Industrial Revolution convenience foods: canned tuna, presliced wheat bread, and mayonnaise," according to James Beard Foundation Award winner Mari Uyehara.<ref>{{cite news | last =Uyehara | first =Mari | title =A Second Look at the Tuna Sandwich's All-American History | newspaper =Taste | location = | pages = | language = | publisher = | date =September 11, 2018 | url =https://www.tastecooking.com/ugly-history-americas-sandwich/ | accessdate = April 18, 2021}}</ref> Canning of tuna began in the United States around 1904, and it was increasingly popular as a lower-cost alternative to canned salmon by the 1920s.<ref name=WP/> German immigrant Richard Hellmann began mass-producing mayonnaise, the other major ingredient of tuna salad, in New York City around 1905, for use by commercial food service businesses. By 1912, he was selling wide-mouthed glass jars of mayonnaise to retail customers, under the brand name Hellmann's.<ref>{{cite news | last =Locker | first =Melissa | title =The History of Hellmann's Mayonnaise| newspaper =Southern Living| location =Birmingham, Alabama | pages = | language = | publisher = | date = | url =https://www.southernliving.com/culture/hellmanns-mayonnaise-history | accessdate =May 28, 2021 }}</ref> Commercial sliced bread was introduced in the United States in 1928, was sold nationally by 1930 and accounted for the majority of U.S. bread sales by 1933.<ref>{{cite web | url =https://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/search/object/nmah_1317263 | title =Bread-slicing Machine | last = | first = | date = | website =National Museum of American History | publisher =Smithsonian Institution| access-date =May 31, 2021 | quote = }}</ref>
Reuben Swinburne Clymer was the grand master of Fraternitas Rosae Crucis, an American Rosicrucian organization from 1922 to 1966. He was an advocate of a pescatarian or fish/vegetarian diet. In 1917, he co-authored ''The Rose Cross Aid Cook Book'' with Clara Witt. The book included a recipe for seafood sandwiches, including variations for canned salmon, canned shrimp and canned tuna. The seafood was removed from the can, placed on slices of buttered bread spread with a teaspoon of mayonnaise, and a lettuce leaf was added.<ref>{{cite book | last1 =Witt | first1 = Clara| last2 =Clymer| first2 =Reuben Swinburne | authorlink = | title =The Rose Cross Aid Cook Book: Containing Instructions in the Art of Cooking and the Correct Combination of Foods. Taught by the Rose Cross Aid School While in Session at "Beverly Hall." | publisher =Rose Cross Aid School | series = | volume = | edition = | date =1917 | location =Kansas City, Missouri | pages =128| language = | url =https://books.google.com/books?id=5zIrFln0R_UC | doi = | id = | isbn = | quote=}}</ref> An institutional cookbook published in 1924 included a recipe for making a batch of 50 tuna sandwiches. The recipe included canned tuna, chopped celery and boiled dressing, an alternative to mayonnaise. The tuna salad was served between slices of buttered bread.<ref>{{cite book | last = Smedley| first = Emma| authorlink = | title =Institution Recipes: Standardized in Large Quantities for use in Cafeterias, Schools, Colleges, Hospitals and Other Institutions | publisher =Emma Smedley Publisher| series = | volume = | edition =Fourth | date =1924 | location =Media, Pennsylvania | pages =228 | language = | url =https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=wu.89042012716&view=1up&seq=25| doi = | id = | isbn = | quote=}}</ref>
Demand for canned tuna in the 1930s was heavier than supply could keep up with.<ref name=WP>{{cite news | last =Ferdman | first =Roberto A. | title =How America fell out of love with canned tuna| newspaper =Washington Post | location = | pages = | language = | publisher = | date = August 18, 2014| url =https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2014/08/18/how-america-fell-out-of-love-with-canned-tuna/| accessdate =April 17, 2021 }}</ref> During World War II, the Office of Price Administration required restaurants in the New York City metropolitan area to prominently post prices of 40 "basic food items". Among them was a "Tuna Fish Salad Sandwich".<ref>{{cite news | last = | first = | title =Restaurants Told To Post 40 Prices; Lists, Ordered Displayed by OPA by Aug. 16, Must Show Basic Food Items Coffee At 5 Cents a Cup; Only Places That Charged More Before October, 1942, May Continue to Do So | newspaper =New York Times | location = | pages = | language = | publisher = | date =August 7, 1944 | url =https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1944/08/07/83987658.html?pageNumber=12| accessdate =April 19, 2021 }}</ref> Canned tuna became more plentiful in the United States in the late 1940s. In 1950, 8,500,000 pounds of canned tuna were produced, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture classified it as a "plentiful food".<ref name="NYT"/>
Well-known 20th century American chefs including James Beard,<ref name=NYT2>{{cite news | last =Burros | first =Marian | title =The Tuna Sandwich: However You Like It | newspaper =New York Times | location = | pages = | language = | publisher = | date =March 2, 1985 | url =https://www.nytimes.com/1985/03/02/style/de-gustibus-the-tuna-sandwich-however-you-like-it.html | accessdate =April 17, 2021}}</ref> Julia Child,<ref>{{cite news | last =Greenspan | first =Dorie | title =This Tuna-Salad Sandwich Is Julia Child-Approved Lunch | newspaper =New York Times | location = | pages = | language = | publisher = | date = October 21, 2020| url =https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/21/magazine/this-tuna-salad-sandwich-is-julia-child-approved-lunch.html | accessdate =April 17, 2021 }}</ref> Craig Claiborne<ref>{{cite news | last =Sifton | first =Sam | title =Welcome to Sandwich City | newspaper =New York Times | location = | pages = | language = | publisher = | date =July 6, 2020 | url =https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/06/dining/welcome-to-sandwich-city.amp.html| accessdate = April 17, 2021}}</ref> and comfort food cookbook author Sue Kreitzman<ref>{{cite news | last =Logan | first = Liz| title =A Tribute To Tuna: The perfect summer sandwich | newspaper =D Magazine | location = | pages = | language = | publisher = | date = | url =https://www.dmagazine.com/publications/d-magazine/1987/may/a-tribute-to-tuna/ | accessdate = April 17, 2021}}</ref> were advocates for the tuna sandwich. American chef David Rosengarten is an advocate for a very simple style of finely chopped, easily spreadable tuna salad, almost like a fish pâté, reminiscent of New York City delicatessen food.<ref>{{cite news | last =Reed | first =Julia | title =Food; Classic From a Can | newspaper =New York Times | location = | pages = | language = | publisher = | date =February 22, 2004 | url =https://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/22/magazine/food-classic-from-a-can.html | accessdate =April 17, 2021 }}</ref>
In 2021, Subway was sued by two California consumers who claimed that the fast-food chain had sold purported tuna sandwiches that were "completely bereft of tuna as an ingredient".<ref name = LC/> A representative of the company which operates over 40,000 locations worldwide, denied the allegations, saying "These claims are meritless,” adding “Tuna is one of our most popular sandwiches. Our restaurants receive 100% wild-caught tuna, mix it with mayonnaise and serve on a freshly made sandwich."<ref name = LC>{{cite news | last =Nanos | first =Elyria | title =Subway, in $5M Lawsuit, Is Accused of Tricking Customers Into Buying Sandwiches Filled With 'Anything But Tuna' | newspaper =Law & Crime | location = | pages = | language = | publisher = | date =January 28, 2021 | url =https://lawandcrime.com/awkward/subway-in-5m-lawsuit-is-accused-of-tricking-customers-into-buying-sandwiches-filled-with-anything-but-tuna/ | accessdate =April 17, 2021 }}</ref> The investigative TV show ''Inside Edition'' sent samples of Subway's tuna salad to Applied Food Technologies, a Florida company that carries out DNA testing of seafood. According to that company, "Yes, we confirmed that tuna was definitely in all three samples we received".<ref>{{cite news | author = Staff| title =Do Subway's Tuna Sandwiches Actually Contain Tuna? Inside Edition Investigates | newspaper =Inside Edition| location = | pages = | language = | publisher = | date =February 11, 2021 | url =https://www.insideedition.com/do-subways-tuna-sandwiches-actually-contain-tuna-inside-edition-investigates-64885| accessdate =June 22, 2021 }}</ref>
==Ingredients== A tuna fish sandwich is usually made with canned tuna mixed with mayonnaise and other additions, such as chopped celery, capers, pickles or pickle relish, hard-boiled eggs,<ref>{{cite web |title=Tuna-Egg Salad Recipe |website=Taste of Home |url=https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/tuna-egg-salad/}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Estimated per capita fish consumption in the United States | publisher=DIANE | isbn=9781428905177 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=372Nwj5fNI8C&dq=egg+and+tuna+salad&pg=SL1-PA33}}</ref> onion, cucumber, sweetcorn or black olives. Other recipes may use olive oil, Miracle Whip, salad cream, mustard, or yogurt, instead of or in addition to mayonnaise. The sandwich may be topped with lettuce, tomato, cucumbers, bean sprouts, or avocado in any combination.
==Variations== [[File:Tuna melt sandwich with fries.jpg|thumb|A tuna melt sandwich served with French fries]] [[File:Open faced tuna sandwich with cherry tomato and guacamole spread.jpg|right|thumb|An open tuna fish sandwich with guacamole and cherry tomatoes]] * A '''tuna melt''' has melted cheese on top of the tuna or on a tomato slice and is served on toasted bread. The ''New York Times'' published a recipe for this variation in 1951, which it called a "Tuna sandwich au gratin".<ref name=NYT>{{cite news | last =Casa-Emellosthe| first =Ruth P. | title =News of Food: Tuna Provides Tempting Dishes; Canned Fish Plentiful Now and a Good Buy for Budget-Minded | newspaper =New York Times | location = | pages = 30| language = | publisher = | date =March 1, 1951 | url =https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1951/03/01/82093669.html?pageNumber=30 | accessdate =April 17, 2021 }}</ref> In 2020, U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Kamala Harris debated methods of preparing a tuna melt, with Warner advocating a quick microwave oven technique, while Harris took a more complex gourmet approach.<ref>{{cite news | last =Millman | first =Noah | title =The culture war in a tuna fish sandwich | newspaper =The Week | location = | pages = | language = | publisher = | date =August 17, 2020 | url =https://theweek.com/articles/931170/culture-war-tuna-fish-sandwich | accessdate =April 17, 2021 }}</ref> Ina Garten is a 21st-century American chef who is fond of tuna melts using gourmet ingredients.<ref>{{cite news | last =McCoy| first =Mary Kate | title =Ina Garten Shares Modern Takes On Classic Comfort Foods: Taking Something Familiar And Adding A Couple Of Touches To Make It Shine | newspaper =Wisconsin Public Radio | location = | pages = | language = | publisher = | date =January 1, 2021 | url =https://www.wpr.org/ina-garten-shares-modern-takes-classic-comfort-foods | accessdate =April 17, 2021 }}</ref> * A '''tuna boat''' is a tuna fish sandwich served in a hot dog bun or long-split bread roll. * A '''grilled tuna sandwich''' is based on fresh tuna instead of canned tuna. In 2001, Cindy Pawlcyn published a recipe for an ahi tuna sandwich, consisting of a grilled ahi tuna steak served on a poppyseed bun.<ref>{{cite book | last1 =Pawlcyn | first1 =Cindy | last2 =Callinan | first2 =Brigid | authorlink =Cindy Pawlcyn | title =Mustards Grill Napa Valley Cookbook| publisher =Ten Speed Press | series = | volume = | edition = | date =2012 | location = | pages = | language = | url =https://books.google.com/books?id=h0DeETTZ7ccC| doi = | id = | isbn =9781607744511| quote=}}</ref> California based restaurant chain The Habit Burger Grill serves a grilled ahi tuna filet sandwich at its over 300 restaurants.<ref>{{cite news | last =Walker | first =Allison | title =Chef's Kitchen: Summer Grillin' Tweaks by Habit Burger Grill | newspaper =News 13 | location =Orlando| pages = | language = | publisher = | date =August 15, 2018 | url =https://www.mynews13.com/fl/orlando/chefs-kitchen/2018/08/07/summer-grillin--tweaks-by-habit-burger-grill- | accessdate =April 19, 2021 }}</ref>
==Nutrition== Tuna is a relatively high protein food and it is very high in omega-3 fatty acids. A sandwich made from 100 grams of tuna and two slices of toasted white bread has approximately 287 kilocalories, 96 of which are from fat (10.5 grams fat). It also has 20 grams of protein and 27 grams of carbohydrates.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nutritiondata.com/facts-C00001-01c214x.html|title=Nutrition Facts - Fish, tuna salad|work=nutritiondata.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nutritiondata.com/facts-C00001-01c21Gb.html|title=Nutrition Facts - Bread, white, commercially prepared, toasted|work=nutritiondata.com}}</ref>
A larger, commercially prepared tuna fish sandwich has more calories than noted above, based on its serving size. A 6-inch Subway tuna sub of 238 grams has 480 kilocalories, 210 of those from fat, 600 milligrams of sodium, and 20 grams of protein.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.subway.com/Menu/Product.aspx?CC=USA&LC=ENG&ProductId=14&MenuID=35&MenuTypeID=1|title=Tuna - nutrition information|work=subway.com|access-date=2 September 2013|archive-date=6 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160506173754/http://www.subway.com/Menu/Product.aspx?CC=USA&LC=ENG&ProductId=14&MenuId=35&MenuTypeId=1|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==See also== {{portal|Food}} {{div col|colwidth=30em}} * List of American sandwiches * List of fish dishes * List of tuna dishes * List of sandwiches * Skipjack tuna {{div col end}}
==References== {{reflist|30em}}
{{tuna|state=expanded}} {{Sandwiches}}
Category:American sandwiches Category:Seafood sandwiches Category:Tuna dishes