We usually associate food poisoning with items like undercooked chicken or unwashed produce. But the latest recall from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) is warning consumers about potential bacteria in what we typically consider one of the most shelf-stable foods—canned tuna. The items in question were sold at Costco, Walmart, Trader Joe’s, Kroger, and other grocery stores across 28 states. They may be affected by the bacteria Clostridium botulinum, which can lead to botulism, “a potentially fatal form of food poisoning,” warns the FDA.
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13 varieties of canned tuna were recalled over botulism risk.
According to the FDA notice, the recall was voluntarily issued by Tri-Union Seafoods “out of an abundance of caution” after the company was made aware that some of the tuna cans’ pull-tab can lids “encountered a manufacturing defect that 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.”
In total, 13 varieties of the tuna are affected and were sold under the following brand names at these grocery stores:
- H-E-B label – Texas
- Trader Joe’s label – 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 oz. – Costco in Florida and Georgia
- Genova 5 oz. – Harris Teeter, Publix, H-E-B, Kroger, Safeway, Walmart, and independent retailers in Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, New Jersey, Tennessee, and Texas
- Van Camp’s label – Walmart and independent retailers in Pennsylvania, Florida, and New Jersey
To determine if a can is included in the recall, you can reference the can codes, Best if Used By dates, and UPC numbers on the bottom of the cans. A full list of these numbers is available in the recall notice.
What is botulism?
The bacteria create spores, which typically do not make people sick. However, when the spores exist under certain conditions, they can become toxic.
“For example, improperly home-canned, preserved, or fermented foods can provide the right conditions for spores to grow and make botulinum toxin,” explains the CDC. “When people eat these foods, they can become seriously ill, or even die, if they don’t get proper medical treatment quickly.”
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Stomach pain
Botulism may also lead to:
- Difficulty swallowing
- Difficulty breathing
- Muscle weakness
- Drooping eyelids and trouble moving the eyes
- Double or blurry vision
- Slurred speech
If you believe you may be suffering from botulism, seek medical attention immediately.
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What to do if you have the recalled tuna:
If you have any of the recalled canned tuna, you should not consume it, “even if it does not look or smell spoiled,” advises the FDA.
You can return it to the retailer of purchase for a full refund, throw it away, or contact Tri-Union Seafoods, who will send a retrieval kit and a coupon for a replacement product.
At the time of writing, no illnesses had been reported in connection with the recall.