Tri-Union Seafoods has issued a voluntary recall for its canned tuna products after discovering a can defect that may lead to botulism contamination. The recall spans numerous states, including Texas, Delaware, Illinois, and Indiana, among others, and affects various retailers such as H-E-B and Walmart. Consumers are urged to return or dispose of the products to prevent health risks.
The recall targets specific products: Van Camp's label available at Walmart and independent retailers in Pennsylvania, Florida, and New Jersey; Genova 7 oz. canned tuna distributed across a wide array of stores such as Harris Teeter and Publix; and Genova 5 oz. canned tuna sold at Costco in Florida and Georgia. These products were distributed to multiple retailers in Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, New Jersey, Tennessee, and Texas.
Botulism is a serious illness caused by the toxin produced by Clostridium botulinum bacteria. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) highlights the toxin's severity.
"by a toxin that attacks the body's nerves and causes difficulty breathing, muscle paralysis, and even death" – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The CDC emphasizes the potential danger of botulism, describing it as a medical emergency.
"Botulism is a medical emergency" – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The CDC explains that while the bacteria that create botulinum toxin are naturally occurring, they rarely cause illness in humans.
"The bacteria that make botulinum toxin are found naturally in many places, but it's rare for them to make people sick" – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
"These bacteria make spores, which act like protective coatings" – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
"Spores help the bacteria survive in the environment, even in extreme conditions" – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The conditions under which these spores become dangerous include improperly canned or preserved foods.
"the spores usually do not cause people to become sick… but under certain conditions, these spores can grow and make one of the most lethal toxins known" – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
"improperly home-canned, preserved, or fermented foods can provide the right conditions for spores to grow and make botulinum toxin" – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Customers possessing any recalled tuna cans are encouraged to return them to the retailer for a full refund or dispose of them safely. Alternatively, they can contact Tri-Union Seafoods directly for a retrieval kit and a coupon for a replacement product. The company offers support via email at support@thaiunionhelp.zendesk.com or by phone at 374-0171 during business hours from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST, Monday through Friday.
To date, Tri-Union Seafoods has not received any reports of illnesses linked to the recalled products. The recall was officially announced on February 7 and subsequently shared on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration website on February 10. In its commitment to safety, Tri-Union Seafoods maintains high standards in product quality assurance.
