Bumble Bee 'Touch of Lemon' is the refreshing twist consumers want in canned tuna as well as a tasty convenience food, according to Longbotham, author of the 2002 published, top-selling recipe book Lemon Zest: 175 Recipes with a Twist, and the popular Luscious Lemon Desserts. "When I tried 'Touch of Lemon' for the first time, I was pleased with the really unique flavor that just a little lemon juice produced," she said. "Especially for the summer, I certainly would recommend 'Touch of Lemon' on the menu. Its flavor is tasty and subtle enough that it can be used in virtually any recipe calling for canned tuna. In fact, it's a flavorful and nutritional convenience food that's an answer to Americans increasingly looking for solutions to make cooking easier and faster.

"More than 75 percent of all meals in the United States are prepared at home, but the time that Americans are spending to prepare them is minimal," explained Longbotham, also a former food editor for Gourmet and American Health magazines. She cited a study conducted by NPDFoodworld (The NPD Group) that found that 50 percent of meals eaten at home are prepared in 30 minutes or less.

Longbotham added that 'Touch of Lemon' should appeal to people who love tuna, as well as those who may have avoided it because of perceptions addressing two of the top consumer negatives – fishy taste and scent. "The addition of lemon juice in Bumble Bee's new light tuna creates a delicate taste experience and a subtle aroma that's appealing to all consumers."

Produced by San Diego-headquartered Bumble Bee Seafoods, L.P., which also produces the leading brand of canned albacore tuna in the U.S., new Bumble Bee 'Touch of Lemon' is rich in protein, providing many of the same health benefits as fresh fish. With only 60 calories per serving, the product is high in Vitamin B.

Bumble Bee President and Chief Executive Officer Christopher D. Lischewski confirmed that given the wave of branded products being introduced that are lemon-enhanced, Bumble Bee saw an opportunity for canned tuna with the taste of lemon. In developing the product, the company invested in research that included determining the right amount of ingredients that would achieve the perfect balance of chunk light tuna and lemon. "Canned light tuna comprises two-thirds of overall tuna sales, but there's been limited innovation and growth in the category for some time," he said. "We felt it was important and timely to develop the concept of tuna with a touch of lemon, which would provide consumers with the variety and affordability they deserve, as well as aid category growth, particularly given the trend of lemon enhanced foods."

He said that Americans are motivated by convenience, cost and consistency when selecting seafood products. "For all three factors, Bumble Bee products, including 'Touch of Lemon' definitely respond to this preference and consumption trend."

Bumble Bee 'Touch of Lemon' is available in supermarkets nationwide. Suggested retail price is between $0.69 and $0.79 per six-ounce can. Packaging includes bright yellow labeling that conveys lemons and is a standout on supermarket shelves.

Bumble Bee 'Touch of Lemon' Tomato Tonnato
(Recipe developed by Lori Longbotham, author of Lemon Zest, for Bumble Bee Seafoods.)

This sauce has been translated from the classic Italian dish vitello tonnato, veal with tuna sauce, into a lovely dressing for a tomato salad. This perfect-for-summer dish couldn't be easier. It's made simply with store-bought mayonnaise (or reduced fat mayonnaise) and Bumble Bee 'Touch of Lemon.' It's a flexible dish so you might tuck sliced fresh mozzarella in between the tomato slices, use sour cream (or reduced fat sour cream) instead of mayonnaise, or serve it with greens. However you serve it, use the ripest tomatoes. Serve Tomato Tonnato as a first course, light supper, or luncheon. Serves 6.

1-6oz can Bumble Bee 'Touch of Lemon' Chunk Light Tuna, drained
1/4 cup mayonnaise (regular or reduced fat)
Salt and freshly ground pepper
4 ripe medium red, yellow, and/or orange tomatoes (about 1¾ pounds), trimmed and cut crosswise into 3/8-inch thick slices
6 leaves each fresh basil and mint
1/2 small mild red onion, cut into paper-thin rings
24 Nicoise olives, pitted and chopped
1 tablespoon drained capers

1. Puree the tuna and mayonnaise in a food processor, scraping down the side of the bowl with a rubber spatula. Transfer to a small bowl and season to taste with salt and pepper.
2. Arrange the tomato slices overlapping in a circle on a platter and spoon the tuna sauce in a circle over the center of the tomatoes.
3. To serve, stack the basil and mint leaves on a cutting board, and finely shred them crosswise with a sharp knife. Scatter the onion, olives, and capers over the tomatoes and the sauce. Top with the finely shredded basil and mint. Serve at room temperature.

Spaghetti with Bumble Bee 'Touch of Lemon' Tuna and Breadcrumbs
(Recipe developed by Lori Longbotham, author of Lemon Zest, for Bumble Bee Seafoods.)

You don't even have to cook this sauce! Just toss it together and let it sit while the pasta cooks. You might add other ingredients, although it certainly is not necessary. Try adding halved cherry tomatoes, shredded arugula or spinach leaves. You might also use whole-wheat spaghetti or whole-wheat bread for the breadcrumbs. I find it easiest to make the breadcrumbs in the food processor. Serves 6 to 8.

5 tablespoons olive oil
3/4 cup soft fresh bread crumbs
2-6oz cans Bumble Bee 'Touch of Lemon' Chunk Light Tuna, drained
3/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1 large mild red onion, cut into ¼-inch dice
1 garlic clove, mashed to a paste with 1¼ teaspoons salt
1/4 teaspoon crushed hot red pepper flakes
1 pound linguine pasta

1. Heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil in a 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until hot but not smoking. Add the breadcrumbs and cook, stirring, for 3 minutes, until golden brown. Transfer to a plate and spread thin to keep crisp.
2. Stir together the remaining 3 tablespoons olive oil, the tuna, parsley, onion, garlic mixture, and red pepper flakes in a large bowl and let stand at room temperature.
3. Cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water according to the package directions, or until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of the pasta cooking water and drain the pasta in a colander.
4. Immediately toss the hot pasta and the tuna mixture, with as much of the reserved cooking water as you need to form a sauce, until well blended. Transfer to a wide shallow serving bowl, top with the breadcrumbs, and serve.

San Diego-headquartered Bumble Bee Seafoods, L.P. is the leading full-line branded canned seafood company in North America. Bumble Bee's brands have established significant consumer awareness and loyalty based on the superior quality of their seafood products.

Bumble Bee is the producer of the number one brand of canned albacore tuna and salmon in the U.S. under the Bumble Bee label, and is the nation's leading supplier of canned specialty seafood. Bumble Bee also produces the number one brand of canned seafood in Canada under the Clover Leaf label. For more information on Bumble Bee, visit us at www.bumblebee.com