Canned Tuna Sold At Costco, Trader Joe’s Recalled Over Botulism Fears

Some canned tuna products have been linked to botulism concerns, prompting major retailers—including Costco, Trader Joe’s, and Walmart—to remove them from shelves, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced, Kaitlin Reilly reported for Yahoo Life.

Tri-Union Seafoods is recalling select products under the Genova, Van Camp’s, H-E-B, and Trader Joe’s brands due to a defect in the "easy-open" pull-tab lids. I Photo: UBuy

Tri-Union Seafoods is recalling select products under the Genova, Van Camp’s, H-E-B, and Trader Joe’s brands due to a defect in the "easy-open" pull-tab lids.

This manufacturing flaw could lead to leakage or contamination with Clostridium botulinum, a potentially deadly bacterium that causes foodborne illness. While no illnesses have been reported so far, consumers are advised not to use the affected products—even if they appear normal—and to seek medical attention if they feel unwell.

Canned tuna under the H-E-B label is sold in Texas, while Trader Joe’s-branded tuna is distributed 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-ounce tuna cans are sold by Costco in Florida and Georgia, while Genova 5-ounce cans are available at 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 tuna is available at Walmart and independent retailers in Pennsylvania, Florida, and New Jersey.

Foodborne illnesses are alarmingly common in the U.S. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 48 million people contract foodborne illnesses each year.