It's not a secret that I love sushi and sashimi. Sometimes I legit crave it, and need it ASAP. There's a sushi restaurant nearby that has pretty good food (not just sushi and sashimi, but good bento, ramen, and other Japanese dishes too). At some point, I discovered this perfectly sized Sushi and Sashimi combination, and this has been my go to when I'm craving some sushi or sashimi.
The arrangement is quite delicious. There's 5 nigiri, 5 sashimi, and there is also a tuna sushi roll. Now, everything is usually delicious and fresh, but there is one sashimi piece that tasted extra fat and buttery that I couldn't identify. I proceed to ask the waiter what this piece of fish is. The response?
"White Tuna."
If you're very knowledgeable about fish or seafood, then you're probably rolling your eyes right now... because you're right - there is no such thing. Let me say it again. White Tuna is not a thing. So what is super white tuna?
Well, let's back up for a second. It's a nick name... sometimes, it can (and you hope it's this) refer to albacore white tuna or longfin tuna. But most of the time... it's actually a fish called Escolar and this is the one you might have to worry about.
What is Escolar? Escolar, aka snake mackerel or waloo, is a dark fast swimming fish that can not metabolize wax esters found in its diet. Hence, escolars have a very high oil content. In fact, it's chinese name is '油魚' which literally translates to 油 = Oil 魚 = Fish.
What does this all mean?
This means it may be super tasty to many. But is white tuna good for you? Unfortunately, not really. It's so oily it can cause something called keriorrhea. Don't click on that if you're eating. Actually, don't read this next sentence if you're eating: It's basically greasy, orange colored diarrhea...
WHAT!? WHY WOULD PEOPLE EVEN SELL IT.
Well, I guess because it's delicious? . But since you can get upset stomach and diarrhea from it, it is recommended that you limit your escolar portions to 6 ounces or less.
Oh, and Fun fact: Escolar has been banned in Italy and Japan.
Still have an appetite?
For some seafood you can enjoy without suffering keriorrhea... try these yummy recipes (if you still have an appetite)!
Chad says
And here I am 6 years after this was originally posted with the article still popping up near the top of Google searches laughing at all of the "Oh the horror how could they let this happen!" comments despite the author writing in a reply "the Food and Drug Administration has warned consumers about the dangers of eating oilfish, but lifted the ban in 1992, because the fish is non-toxic and poses no health risk.”
No option to bold, so I'll repeat the "non-toxic and poses no health risk" part of her reply.
I've never seen any of the sushi restaurants I've frequented serving up escolar by the pound so chances of eating enough through a normal sushi meal here in the US to even trigger a reaction are next to nil. Do your own research with a dose of rationalism to go along with the sensationalist quotes in articles like this.
Tony says
An average piece of sushi is about 1 ounce for sashimi, half an ounce for a roll, I have it once a week, one piece along with whatever other sushi looks good, it’s an indulgence, absolutely buttery fish. Our waitress warned us not to eat too much of it so we enjoy a piece or two… moderation will introduce you to something pretty good.
Jessica says
OhEmGeeeee...wow. I had NO idea. My oh my...I'm happy to know and will skip the "white tuna" next time.
Grayswandir says
You shouldn't skip it, it is delicious. I had zero problems digesting it and have been eating escolar for years. The key is eating a small amount (one maki roll to test) to see how your system handles it. Some people may be sensitive to the wax esters in the fish, and because of that, get an upset stomach or suffer with a bought of diarrhea. If you're not one of those people, then you can eat "white tuna" and enjoy it's luxuriously fatty and smooth texture. I imagine the number of people who have had a bad reaction to escolar make up a very small percentage of the population to begin with, so it's a problem 95% of people don't ever experience in the first place.