If you have recently purchased canned tuna, you may want to double-check what's in your pantry. On February 7, Tri-Union Seafoods announced a voluntary recall of its canned tunas after receiving notice of a manufacturing defect which could compromise the products' quality and safety. The company sells canned tuna under several brand names, including Trader Joe's, Genova, Van Camp's, and H-E-B.
Why is canned tuna being recalled? The company announcement, shared by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration, explains the recall is "out of an abundance of caution," due to a defect found in some "easy open" pull tab can lids. This defect "may compromise the integrity of the product seal (especially over time), causing it to leak, or worse, be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum, a potentially fatal form of food poisoning." Botulism can lead to serious health issues like difficulty breathing, muscular paralysis, and, potentially, death, as it is caused by toxins produced by clostridium botulinum.
Consumers should refrain from eating the tuna and either discard or return it, even if the product doesn’t appear spoiled. So which products are recalled? Many of the affected items are marked with “best if used by” dates ranging from December 2027 to January 2028 and include the following:
- Trader Joe's Solid Light Yellowfin Tuna in Olive Oil (UPC: 51403)
- Trader Joe's Solid White Tuna in Olive Oil (UPC: 99287)
- Trader Joe's Solid White Tuna in Water (UPC: 99285)
- Trader Joe's Solid White Water Low Sodium (UPC: 95836)
- Trader Joe's Solid White Water No Salt Added (UPC: 99284)
- Genova Solid White Tuna in Olive Oil, 5-ounce can (UPC: 4800000215)
- Genova Yellowfin Tuna in Olive Oil, 5-ounce can (UPC: 4800013265)
- Genova Yellowfin Tuna in Olive Oil, 4-pack of 5-ounce cans (UPC: 4800073265)
- Genova Yellowfin Tuna in Olive Oil, 6-pack of 7-ounce cans (UPC: 4800063267)
- Genova Yellowfin Tuna in Extra Virgin Olive Oil with Sea Salt, 5-ounce can (UPC: 4800013275)
- Van Camp's Solid Light Tuna in Oil, 5-ounce (UPC: 4800025015)
- Van Camp's Solid Light Tuna in Oil, 4-pack of 5-ounce cans (UPC: 4800075015)
- H-E-B Solid White Tuna in Water, 4-pack of 5-ounce cans (UPC: 4122043345)
Where was the canned tuna sold? Regardless of your shopping locations, checking your pantry is imperative. The recalled products were distributed to various supermarkets, including Trader Joe's, Costco, Harris Teeter, and Walmart, across over 20 states. Distribution details by brand are as follows:
- Trader Joe's: Sold in Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington D.C., and Wisconsin.
- Genova, 7-ounce: Available at Costco locations in Florida and Georgia.
- Genova, 5-ounce: Sold at Harris Teeter, Publix, H-E-B, Kroger, Safeway, Walmart, and independent retailers across Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, New Jersey, Tennessee, and Texas.
- Van Camp's products: Available at Walmart and independent retailers across Pennsylvania, Florida, and New Jersey.
If you find you have one of the recalled canned tuna products, Tri-Union has laid out clear steps on what to do. Firstly, do not consume the product, regardless of whether it appears dented or spoiled. You can return it to the retailer for a full refund or throw it away. Alternatively, customers can contact Tri-Union Seafoods directly for assistance with disposal and potential replacements. Consumers can reach the company via email at [email protected] or by calling 833-374-0171 on weekdays from 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. EST.
What should you be aware of healthwise? No illnesses have been reported so far related to the affected products, but the potential for hazardous contamination exists. The California Department of Public Health warns consumers to be vigilant, citing the serious risks associated with botulism. Symptoms, which can manifest between 12 to 36 hours after consuming contaminated food, include extreme fatigue, paralysis, difficulty swallowing, slurred speech, and blurred vision. Anyone who feels unwell after potentially consuming these products is advised to seek medical help immediately.
The current tuna recall is just one piece of the larger food safety concerns faced by consumers. A previous listeria recall magnified these worries last year when 12 million pounds of meat and poultry were affected, underlining the importance of vigilance when it involves food safety.
With this latest tuna issue, consumers should remain informed and take the necessary measures to keep their households safe from foodborne illnesses.