Canned Tuna Recall Alert: Botulism Risk Linked to Packaging Issues

Canned tuna available in many major supermarkets across 26 states and Washington, D.C., has been recalled due to potential botulism risks stemming from packaging defects, warns manufacturer Tri-Union Seafoods along with the Food and Drug Administration. Based in California, the company has initiated a voluntary recall involving 13 different products, urging customers who have bought these items to be extremely vigilant. The affected products were sold at locations such as Costco, Trader Joe’s, Kroger, Safeway, Harris Teeter, Walmart, and Publix.

On February 7, Tri-Union Seafoods announced the recall of canned tuna under the Genova, Van Camp’s, H-E-B, and Trader Joe’s brands. This week, the FDA officially listed the recall. The recalled items have been identified as having problematic “easy pull” packaging, which can lead to a compromised seal or contamination with Clostridium botulinum. This bacteria poses serious health risks if ingested, potentially causing severe food poisoning known as botulism, which can be life-threatening. Thankfully, no illnesses linked to these products have been reported yet.

Consumers who have acquired cans from the recalled batches are advised to either bring them back to the store for a refund, dispose of them, or contact Tri-Union Seafoods to obtain a retrieval kit along with a coupon.