A massive recall is affecting popular tuna cans as an urgent warning from health officials and manufacturers comes forward. Tri-Union Seafoods has issued a recall for several of its assorted canned tuna products. These cans, sold under various brand names like Trader Joe’s, Walmart, and Costco, are being after someone discovered a manufacturing defect in the “easy open” pull tab. The lids potentially compromise the integrity of the tuna cans lid, and could allow deadly bacteria to develop inside of the product.
Manufacturing Defect
The tuna can recall was made “out of an abundance of caution” as Tri-Union Seafoods was notified by a supplier of the easy-open pull tab defect on certain products. If the defect could compromises the product seal, the tuna cans can leak or get contaminated with Clostridium botulinum bacteria. The bacteria produce a toxin that causes botulism, which, while rare, is a potentially fatal form of food poisoning that attacks the body’s nervous system. The FDA has published the company’s announcement regarding which tuna cans are affected, which can be identified by can codes and “Best If Used By” dates. Health officials emphasize that consumers should not use the identified tuna cans even if they seem to be normal – contaminated products may not be visibly compromised or even have a bad smell, but the bacteria may still be there all the same. No illnesses have been associated with the recalled cans thus far, but the severity of a potential botulism case has prompted swift and decisive action on Tri-Union Seafoods’ part.
