Canned Tuna Sold In Trader Joe’s, Costco And More Recalled

Multiple brands of canned tuna sold in stores like H-E-B, Trader Joe’s, Publix and Costco have been recalled due to the potential for botulism, which can be a fatal form of food poisoning.

Last week, Tri-Union Seafoods announced a voluntary recall on several of its canned tuna products sold across multiple states, citing a manufacturing defect in the cans’ “easy open” pull tab feature as the issue. The cans were packaged under Trader Joe’s and H-E-B brand names, along with the Genova and Van Camp brand.

According to the announcement, the affected products were delivered to the following states under these labels:

• H-E-B label: H-E-B stores in Texas
• Trader Joe’s label: Trader Joe’s retailers 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 oz. label: Costco stores in Florida and Georgia
• Genova 5 oz. label: 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 stores in Pennsylvania, Florida and New Jersey

If you suspect you purchased one of the products, check the universal product code, or UPC, and best-by date on the can and cross reference them with the impacted list on the Food and Drug Administration’s website.

No illnesses have been reported so far. That said, consumers should not use the affected products, even if they don’t seem spoiled. The tuna was recalled out of an “abundance of caution following the notification from our supplier,” the company said. The notification stated that the products “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,” according to the company.

If you discover you have the product at home, you can return it to the store you purchased it from for a refund. Tri-Union Seafoods also stated consumers can throw out the product or reach out to the company directly for a retrieval kit and replacement coupon. You can contact the company at [email protected] or by calling 833-374-0171.

And if you suspect you ate the affected tuna? Don’t panic. To reiterate, no illnesses have been reported yet. If you believe you consumed any of the recalled products, you should watch for any signs of potential foodborne illness, including upset stomach, diarrhea, vomiting, bloody stool and more.

Botulism is a rare yet serious illness that can occur when certain bacteria produce a toxin in the body that then attacks the nerves. It can lead to difficulty breathing or paralysis and can be fatal.

If you’re concerned or experiencing any symptoms ― whether mild or otherwise ― chat with your doctor as soon as possible. It’s always better to get a medical opinion if you’re worried.