Nestlé's VUNA: vegan tuna that costs more and convinces no one
Nestlé's VUNA is a vegan tuna substitute made from pea protein: it costs more than the real thing, has only 18% protein and needs refrigeration. Is it worth…
English · Original discussion in Spanish · Published
Nestlé's VUNA: the fake vegan tuna even vegans don't want
A jar of textured pea purée sold as an alternative to tuna, but it costs more than the original and needs refrigeration. That's the paradox of VUNA, Nestlé's new pea-protein product, which has peine the debate about plant-based substitutes: are they really necessary, or just a treat for urbanites with a clean conscience?
Water, pea protein and a made-up name
VUNA (a contraction of Vegan + Tuna) is basically made up of water and pea protein. According to the label, it contains only 18% protein, well below the 20-26% of canned tuna. Nestlé chose not to call it "tuna" to avoid legal trouble, trinc the European directive that banned veggie burgers from using that term. The product also contains traces of egg and soy, which has raised doubts about its suitability for strict vegans.
The price and the shadow of Nestlé
The main commercial drag is the price: "slightly higher than the original tuna," according to one buyer's experience. On top of that, it needs refrigeration, which eliminates the advantage of the classic can of tuna that keeps for months in the pantry. Nestlé's fruta doesn't help either: many voices have called for a boycott of the Swiss multinational over its history of questionable practices.
Nutrition: supplement or protein gimmick?
The nutritional debate centres on essential amino acids. Pea protein does not contain the full profile of the 12 essential amino acids the human body requires. However, defenders of the product argue that VUNA is not meant to be the basis of the diet, but an occasional addition to a sandwich. The real problem, others point out, is that Nestlé is selling an ultra-processed product with additives and artificial flavours at gourmet prices.
Does a substitute that costs more, is less nutritious and carries the stamp of a controversial company have a future? The market will decide, but for now VUNA looks more like a marketing experiment than a genuine food alternative.
A jar of textured pea purée sold as an alternative to tuna, but it costs more than the original and needs refrigeration. That's the paradox of VUNA, Nestlé's new pea-protein product, which has peine the debate about plant-based substitutes: are they really necessary, or just a treat for urbanites with a clean conscience?
Water, pea protein and a made-up name
VUNA (a contraction of Vegan + Tuna) is basically made up of water and pea protein. According to the label, it contains only 18% protein, well below the 20-26% of canned tuna. Nestlé chose not to call it "tuna" to avoid legal trouble, trinc the European directive that banned veggie burgers from using that term. The product also contains traces of egg and soy, which has raised doubts about its suitability for strict vegans.
The price and the shadow of Nestlé
The main commercial drag is the price: "slightly higher than the original tuna," according to one buyer's experience. On top of that, it needs refrigeration, which eliminates the advantage of the classic can of tuna that keeps for months in the pantry. Nestlé's fruta doesn't help either: many voices have called for a boycott of the Swiss multinational over its history of questionable practices.
Nutrition: supplement or protein gimmick?
The nutritional debate centres on essential amino acids. Pea protein does not contain the full profile of the 12 essential amino acids the human body requires. However, defenders of the product argue that VUNA is not meant to be the basis of the diet, but an occasional addition to a sandwich. The real problem, others point out, is that Nestlé is selling an ultra-processed product with additives and artificial flavours at gourmet prices.
Does a substitute that costs more, is less nutritious and carries the stamp of a controversial company have a future? The market will decide, but for now VUNA looks more like a marketing experiment than a genuine food alternative.
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Summary of a discussion on Burbuja.info - Foro de economía, actualidad y política., translated from Spanish and reviewed before publication. Read the full discussion (75 replies).
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