Alright, folks, if you’ve got canned tuna sitting in your pantry from Trader Joe’s, Costco, Walmart, or just about any major grocery store, you might want to hit pause before making that tuna melt.
A massive recall has been issued, and this isn’t your typical “oops, wrong label” situation—this is a potential “botulism” risk. And if you don’t know what botulism is, let’s just say it’s the kind of food poisoning you “really” don’t want to mess with.
The recall, which affects multiple brands—including H-E-B, Trader Joe’s, Genova, and Van Camp’s—was announced by Tri-Union Seafoods on February 7. The culprit? A defect in the ‘easy open’ pull-tab lids.
Now, that might not sound like a big deal at first, but here’s the problem: the flaw could cause the cans to “leak or become contaminated” with “clostridium botulinum”. That’s the nasty bacteria behind botulism, a rare but serious illness that can lead to paralysis and even “death” in extreme cases.
We’re talking about products sold in “25 states”, hitting major retailers like Publix, Kroger, Safeway, and Harris Teeter. Specific items include Genova-brand Yellowfin Tuna in Olive Oil six-packs sold at Costco in Florida and Georgia, H-E-B-brand four-packs of Solid White Tuna in Water in Texas, and Trader Joe’s Solid White Water No Salt Added canned tuna in nearly 20 states. That’s a whole lot of potentially risky tuna floating around out there.
So what should you do if you’ve got any of these cans? Tri-Union Seafoods is urging customers to “return them for a full refund, throw them away,” or contact the company for a retrieval kit and product coupon. Basically, just “don’t eat it”. It’s not worth the risk.
Now, if you’re wondering just how serious this is, let’s break down what botulism actually does. The bacteria itself is often found in spores in seafood, and when conditions are right, it produces a “neurotoxin”—one of the most dangerous substances on the planet. Symptoms of botulism can kick in anywhere from “12 to 36 hours” after ingestion, but in some cases, they take “four to eight days” to appear. It starts with nausea, vomiting, and dizziness, but quickly moves into more alarming territory—”double vision, loss of muscle control, difficulty breathing”. If untreated, it can be fatal due to “respiratory failure”.
The good news? As of now, there have been “no reported illnesses or deaths” linked to the recalled tuna. But that doesn’t mean you should take any chances.
This is just one in a growing list of major food recalls in 2024. Already this year, we’ve seen recalls for “donuts and pastries” over “Listeria” concerns, “broccoli florets” at Walmart flagged for “contamination”, and even “BBQ sauce and cheese” pulled off shelves.
Bottom line? Check your pantry, check your tuna, and when in doubt, “throw it out”. Because a tuna sandwich is great, but “not” at the cost of your health. Stay safe out there!
