Canned Tuna at Rs 10 in Mauritius: Minister Names the 5 Star Brand

When Mauritius announced a government subsidy on canned tuna earlier this year, social media lit up with excitement — and then quickly with disappointment. The promise of tuna at around Rs 8.82 per tin spawned memes and jokes, but when shoppers headed to supermarket shelves, they found their favourite brands nowhere near that price. Well-known labels remain firmly out of subsidy range. Petit Navire tins sell for between Rs 45 and Rs 60, Trébon for Rs 35 to Rs 50, and Tropical for Rs 30 to Rs 45 or more. Some premium varieties exceed Rs 100 per can. So where exactly was this subsidised tuna hiding? **Minister Sik Yuen Clears the Air** Speaking on a private radio programme this week, Commerce Minister Sik Yuen confirmed what many consumers had been wondering: the subsidised canned tuna — available at around Rs 10 — is the **5 Star brand**. This is a lesser-known, more budget-oriented label that does not enjoy the same household recognition as Petit Navire or Trébon among Mauritian shoppers. The clarification matters because the gap between public expectation and retail reality has been a source of frustration since July, when the subsidy was first announced. Many consumers assumed their preferred brands would fall under the scheme. **Why Popular Brands Aren't Covered** For retailers and consumers alike, price is only one factor in the equation. Brand familiarity, taste, and long-standing buying habits mean that many Mauritians will continue reaching for the brands they know — even at significantly higher prices. The subsidy, while real, applies to a specific product that a large portion of the population may not routinely purchase. This is not unusual in subsidy schemes globally: governments subsidise lower-cost alternatives to ease pressure on household budgets, but uptake depends heavily on whether consumers are willing to switch brands. **What This Means for Shoppers** If you are looking to benefit from the tuna subsidy, the product to look for is the **5 Star brand**, priced at approximately Rs 10 per tin. It should be available in supermarkets and grocery outlets across Mauritius. Shoppers who stick to Petit Navire, Trébon, or Tropical will not see any price reduction under the current scheme. The subsidy is part of a broader government effort to reduce the cost of basic food items for Mauritian households, particularly lower-income families. However, the effectiveness of such measures depends on whether the subsidised product actually matches what people eat day-to-day. For now, the message from the minister is clear: affordable canned tuna exists on Mauritian shelves — you just need to know which brand to pick up. Source: ION News