The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced that Tri-Union Seafoods is voluntarily recalling its canned tuna products sold at major supermarkets such as Walmart, Trader Joe’s, Kroger, and Costco.
According to a statement released by the FDA on Monday, headquartered in California, Tri-Union Seafoods announced on February 7 that it is recalling some canned tuna products sold in several states across the U.S. and in Washington D.C. These products were sold at retail giants like Walmart, Trader Joe’s, Kroger, and Costco. Tri-Union Seafoods is a subsidiary of Thai Union Group, a global seafood supplier based in Thailand.
The announcement mentioned that some of Tri-Union Seafoods’ canned tuna lids have manufacturing defects that could compromise the “integrity of the product seal,” prompting the company to recall them as a precautionary measure.
The defective lids could potentially cause a leak in the seal of the canned products, which could lead to contamination with botulism toxin, a potentially fatal form of food poisoning, as highlighted in the statement.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), botulism toxin can cause botulism poisoning, a rare but severe illness that can affect a person’s nerves, leading to symptoms such as difficulty breathing, muscle paralysis, and even death.
Tri-Union Seafoods has warned consumers not to consume the canned products listed in the recall, even if they appear or smell normal. Consumers feeling unwell after consuming these products should seek medical attention immediately.
The announcement emphasized that there have been no reported illnesses associated with the recalled products, and the recall is being conducted to ensure consumer safety.
The retail stores where these products were sold were listed in the announcement. The recalled canned tuna products were sold under various brands, including Genova, Van Camp’s, H-E-B, and Trader Joe’s.
The announcement stated that anyone in possession of the recalled products can return them to the retailer for a full refund, dispose of them, or contact Tri-Union Seafoods directly for compensation.
Tri-Union Seafoods also mentioned that this recall does not affect any of its other products and reiterated its commitment to upholding the highest safety and quality standards.