As of February 7, 2025, certain canned tuna products sold at major retailers like Costco, Trader Joe’s, Walmart, and H-E-B have been recalled over concerns of potential botulism contamination.
The recall affects tuna sold under the Genova, Van Camp’s, H-E-B, and Trader Joe’s brands due to a manufacturing defect in the “easy open” pull tab lid, which could compromise the seal and allow dangerous bacteria to grow.
Consumers are advised not to eat the affected tuna products even if they appear normal.
If you have a recalled can, you can return it to the store for a full refund or contact Tri-Union Seafoods for a retrieval kit and replacement. So far, no illnesses have been reported.
Which brands of tuna are being recalled?
Below is a list of the brands of tuna impacted by the February 2025 recall as well as the specific states and stores affected:
- H-E-B brand: Texas
- Trader Joe’s brand: Sold 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 brand: Sold at Costco (Florida & Georgia), Harris Teeter, Publix, Kroger, Safeway, Walmart, and independent retailers in Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, New Jersey, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas.
- Van Camp’s brand: Sold at Walmart and independent retailers in Pennsylvania, Florida, and New Jersey.
To verify if your canned tuna is part of the recall, check the UPC number, along with the can codes and best-if-used-by dates printed on the bottom of the can. You can find the full list of affected products in the official recall notice.
What is botulism?
Botulism is a rare but serious illness caused by a toxin produced by Clostridium botulinum bacteria. It can lead to muscle paralysis and even be life-threatening if not treated quickly.
Signs to watch for include:
- Dry mouth
- Difficulty swallowing or speaking
- Blurred or double vision
- Drooping eyelids of facial weakness
- Muscle weakness
- Trouble breathing
- Nausea, vomiting, or abdominal cramps
If you experience any of these symptoms after consuming a recalled Chicken of the Sea tuna product, seek medical attention immediately.
This isn’t the first time Tri-Union Seafoods tuna has been recalled
In July 2010, California-based Tri-Union Seafoods, LLC issued a precautionary and voluntary recall for 12-oz Chicken of the Sea brand white tuna fish in water. The company’s quality control mechanisms determined certain cans, some of which were shipped to Colorado, were not properly sealed.
These affected products did not meet the company’s standards for seal tightness so in an abundance of caution to ensure public health, Tri-Union issued the recall, explained Shue Wing Chan, president of Tri-Union. If tuna fish and other canned meats are not properly sealed, pathogens and spoilage organisms could contaminate the product.
“The health and safety of our customers and consumers is paramount. As soon as we discovered this production error, we took immediate steps in issuing this precautionary, voluntary recall, and alerting the appropriate regulatory authorities,” said Chan. “We have notified all of our customers who have received the product and asked them to remove it from their shelves. Our immediate actions in this recall include re-evaluating our systems to ensure this error does not happen again.”
The 12-oz cans of Chicken of the Sea tuna were distributed in February and May of 2010 in several states including Wisconsin, Nebraska, Utah, Pennsylvania, New York, Maine, Colorado, Indiana, California and Oregon.
Affected products had a “best by” date of 2/10/2014 stamped on the bottom of the can. The general UPC code for the product was 4800000262…product code numbers for items affected by this recall included 7OA1E ASWAB, 7OA2E ASWAB, 7OA3E ASWAB, 7OA4E ASWAB, 7OA5E ASWAB, 7OAEE ASWAB or 7OAFE ASWAB.
What brand is Chicken of the Sea tuna?
Chicken of the Sea is a well-known brand of canned tuna and other seafood products. It is owned by Thai Union Group, a global seafood company. The brand offers a wide range of products including tuna, salmon, and other types of seafood, available in various formats like canned, pouch, and frozen.
If you or a loved one has gotten sick after eating contaminated tuna or have otherwise been adversely affected by defective products like these, you may qualify for compensation for any resulting illness or wrongful death. Contact the experienced Denver personal injury attorneys at The Babcock Law Firm today for a free case evaluation.
