(Wal-Mart) Great Value Chunk Chicken Breast

[grubman]

I know, I know...just buy regular chicken breasts, avoid processed foods, blah blah blah. Ok, we got that out of the way, now on to the real point of the thread.

If you shop Wal-mart you might have seen these cans of chicken. They are convenient, they taste pretty good, and they seem pretty cheap. The ONLY reason I'm posting this is for people who don't weigh their food and simply read the back of the package.

Point is, the can says it contains 6-2 oz servings. Which really means (more or less) 3-4 oz servings, or roughly 3 chicken breasts for a heck of a cheap price. The nutritional values on the back of the package confirm this. With a "minimum" of additives, it seems like a pretty good deal for quick meals and a protein fix.

Thing is, if you weigh out your food, you will find there is really only about 7 ounces of chicken in the can (a bit less than 2 chicken breasts). The rest of the weight is taken up by the can itself and the water it's packed in. There is no way the water contains the same nutritional value as the chicken itself, and the nutritional values on the back (other than the number of servings) are the same as "real" chicken.

I wrote Wal-mart and confronted them on this (I think it's a pretty blatant lie). Needless to say I got a form letter thanking me for the insight, but they "needed more information" and then gave me a huge questionnaire to fill out...I'm guessing this is their way of dissuading and ignoring people, and it worked, I really didn't want to take the time to fill this out and send it back.

So...point is, if you are buying this product, putting a whole can in a casserole or omelet or something and assuming you are getting 12 oz of chicken, you aren't, you are only getting 7 (at least that's what it came out of the 6 cans I measured). A search didn't show a thread on this that I could find, and I thought it was useful information.

[bustasinclair]

Thanks for doing the work on that. I also use that chicken from time to time.

Have you measured the Tyson brand or any other major brand for that matter?

[grubman]

Thanks for doing the work on that. I also use that chicken from time to time.

Have you measured the Tyson brand or any other major brand for that matter?

The frozen Tyson ones are really good...in fact, I've always gotten an extra ounce or two out of each package.

[bustasinclair]

The frozen Tyson ones are really good...in fact, I've always gotten an extra ounce or two out of each package.

I meant 12oz cans. Meaning, is this just what the industry does as a whole? I'm pretty sure Tyson packages the Wal-Mart brand.

Or Swanson?

[grubman]

I meant 12oz cans. Meaning, is this just what the industry does as a whole? I'm pretty sure Tyson packages the Wal-Mart brand.

Oh, no, sorry...I was just so taken by the relative cheap price on the Great Value cans for what they (supposedly) contained, that I bought a dozen cans.

[induced_drag]

Point is, the can says it contains 6-2 oz servings. Which really means (more or less) 3-4 oz servings, or roughly 3 chicken breasts

Thing is, if you weigh out your food, you will find there is really only about 7 ounces of chicken in the can (a bit less than 2 chicken breasts).
.

Not sure what mini chickens you are getting but where is 12oz = 3 breasts?! Chicken breasts uncooked run 8-11oz generally.

This may be some of your issue as well. You may be confusing uncooked and cooked values. You have to learn to read labels better. Looking at the tyson product labe (which is all I could find)l it is obvious what they are doing. There is 12 oz in the can. The water and the chicken! When chicken is uncooked, the water in in the chicken, when cooked, it comes out. Poaching chicken will yeild aprox 60% of the uncooked weight. (I know because I have measure before and after weights....not because I read it somewhere) So if you measured 7 oz in the can that is EXACTLY 12oz uncooked.

This can be verified by the protein count. They are referencing uncooked chicken. The label says 2 oz has 11g of protein. This fits with the USDA number of a 4oz uncooked breast having 23g.


No big conspiracy....if you took as much time to learn about food and macro values as you did for writing complaint letters, you would see it is YOU that are wrong. You are not being cheated as there is 12oz of chicken in the can.

And....breasts are not 4oz except on mars

[grubman]

Not sure what mini chickens you are getting but where is 12oz = 3 breasts?! Chicken breasts uncooked run 8-11oz generally.

This may be some of your issue as well. You may be confusing uncooked and cooked values. You have to learn to read labels better. Looking at the tyson product labe (which is all I could find)l it is obvious what they are doing. There is 12 oz in the can. The water and the chicken! When chicken is uncooked, the water in in the chicken, when cooked, it comes out. Poaching chicken will yeild aprox 60% of the uncooked weight. (I know because I have measure before and after weights....not because I read it somewhere) So if you measured 7 oz in the can that is EXACTLY 12oz uncooked.

This can be verified by the protein count. They are referencing uncooked chicken. The label says 2 oz has 11g of protein. This fits with the USDA number of a 4oz uncooked breast having 23g.


No big conspiracy....if you took as much time to learn about food and macro values as you did for writing complaint letters, you would see it is YOU that are wrong. You are not being cheated as there is 12oz of chicken in the can.

And....breasts are not 4oz except on mars

Sorry, should have said "servings", because I always count my meats in 4 oz servings.

[induced_drag]

Sorry, should have said "servings", because I always count my meats in 4 oz servings.

There are still 3-4oz servings of chicken breast in the can. They just weigh 2.4 oz as prepared.

Meat loses various amounts of weight in cooking. Chicken is generally 70% or original weight, except when poached such as soups or shredded. (then it is only 60% or original). Beef is anywhere from 70-85+ depending on how rare or well done you cook. Well done being similar to chicken at 70% and more rare being 85+%

[Broseph82]

Even raw chicken has a "water-broth" added to it. Look at the package it will say xx%.

A lot of times a company wants feedback so if they sent you a form to fill out, fill it out. It may yield you some freebies from the store to keep you happy.

[EjnarKolinkar]

TFW macros calcs blow your mind.

Cooked vs raw vs label estimates can be a pita at times. The guys that get completely freaked out by protein and fat content shifts in skin on chicken breasts cooked an uncooked. That one is always coming up.

[kconnell]

Not all advertizing is accurate, but....

The nutritional information should never factor in the container (whatever it is). Water, electrolytes, yes, but not the container.

[Keoking]

Had the buffalo flavored Walmart canned chicken for lunch. Added some light sour cream and chucked it on some bread. Delicious.

[OutOfStep]

Meat from a can. Lol are you people really that destitute?

[kimm4]

Meat from a can. Lol are you people really that destitute?

I do remember having a few things from a can when I was a kid.





Thanks Mom!

[EjnarKolinkar]

Oh the deviled ham.....1 can was sandwiches for 3 people.

[Old-Time-Lifter]

I do remember having a few things from a can when I was a kid.





Thanks Mom!

Always hated deviled ham, but fried spam is pretty dang good.

[RedSox1990]

I love canned chicken tbh lol. I throw a whole can into my omelet some mornings, like 80g protein right there

[MF1977]

I try to not remember that old meats in a can.

[jjack010]

Fried spam and eggs! Yum

[Bando]

Why is the canned chicken more expensive than canned tuna? It's not like you have to send crews out on the ocean with boats and nets to harvest chickens.

[snacker]

http://youtu.be/8e0qpl7oC9s