08/18/2026
At Yamato, we sometimes get asked:
“Why isn’t your tuna always bright pink?”
The answer is simple: we use fresh-cut tuna, and natural tuna color can vary.
Depending on the part of the fish, oxygen exposure, and how recently it was cut, fresh tuna may appear bright red, deep red, or burgundy. Even different sections from the same piece can naturally look different.
The photos in this post are a good example — they show how one fresh tuna cut can have several natural shades of red at the same time.
Many people are used to seeing tuna with a very uniform pink or bright red color. Some commercially processed tuna products may use color-retention methods that help keep the appearance more consistent for longer. Not all products are treated this way, but it is one reason why color alone is not always the best way to judge tuna.
At Yamato, we choose our tuna based on what matters most:
flavor, texture, and freshness.
So if your tuna looks a little darker one day or slightly different from piece to piece, that can be completely natural.
Different color. Real fresh tuna. Better flavor. 🍣
