Tuna Products Sold at Trader Joe’s, Walmart, and Costco Recalled Over Contamination Concerns

 

A selection of canned tuna products sold across major U.S. retailers has been voluntarily recalled due to potential contamination risks.

On Friday, Tri-Union Seafoods announced a recall affecting specific tuna products sold under the Genova, Van Camp's, H-E-B, and Trader Joe’s brands. These items were available at major chains such as Walmart, Trader Joe’s, Costco, Kroger, and Publix.

According to the company’s statement, the recall was initiated after a supplier identified a manufacturing flaw in the “easy open” lids of the cans. This defect could "compromise the integrity of the product seal (especially over time), causing it to leak, or worse, be contaminated with clostridium botulinum," a bacterium known to cause botulism, a potentially fatal foodborne illness.

The U.S. World Health Organization has stated, "Clostridium botulinum can grow and produce toxins in food prior to consumption." Ingesting contaminated food can lead to symptoms such as "fatigue, weakness, and vertigo, usually followed by blurred vision, dry mouth, and difficulty in swallowing and speaking."

Tri-Union Seafoods has urged consumers to avoid consuming the affected products, even if they "do not look or smell spoiled." Anyone experiencing symptoms should seek immediate medical attention.

As of February 10, "no illnesses associated with the recalled products have been reported and the recall is being conducted to ensure consumer safety."

The affected H-E-B tuna cans were distributed in Texas retail locations, while Trader Joe’s labeled cans were available in 19 states, including New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.

Genova’s seven-ounce cans were sold at Costcos in Florida and Georgia, whereas its five-ounce cans were available at Harris Teeter, Publix, H-E-B, Kroger, Safeway, Walmart, and various independent retailers in states such as Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Florida, and Georgia.

Van Camp’s tuna cans were available at Walmart and independent retailers in Pennsylvania, Florida, and New Jersey.

Consumers can identify the recalled products by checking the Best By dates and UPC numbers printed on the bottom of the cans. These details have been provided in Tri-Union Seafoods’ official press release.

Customers with the recalled tuna cans can either dispose of them or return them to the store of purchase for a full refund. Additionally, Tri-Union Seafoods is offering a "retrieval kit and a coupon for a replacement product" for affected consumers.

“This recall does not impact any other Tri-Union Seafoods products, as no other product packaging was impacted by this potential defect,” the company stated. “Tri-Union Seafoods is committed to upholding the highest safety and quality standards.”

This recall comes amid a series of food safety alerts in the U.S. Earlier this year, the FDA announced the recall of approximately 60 different baked goods from FGF, LLC, which were distributed nationwide.

The recall, completed in January, included a variety of baked products such as cake donut rings, raspberry-filled donuts, French crullers, Bavarian-filled donuts, and certain Dunkin’ Donuts items, including two flavors of its Munchkins. The FDA reported that "2,0176,614 cases of the different baked goods" were recalled due to a "potential for contamination with listeria," a bacterium that can cause severe infections.

Additionally, last month, D. Coluccio & Sons recalled its 300-gram packages of “Colussi Cantuccini Chocolate Drops” due to the presence of undeclared almonds, posing a "serious or life-threatening allergic reaction" risk to consumers with tree nut allergies, as per the FDA.

The recall was issued after it was discovered that the product contained almonds but was mistakenly packaged without a proper allergen warning. A subsequent investigation found that the mistake resulted from a "temporary breakdown in the company’s production and packaging processes."