Tuna Recall Expanded After Quarantined Shipments Mistakenly Reached Stores in Nine States

A shipment of canned tuna that was recalled last year due to concerns over botulism was accidentally delivered to stores across nine states. This is a quite alarming development. It has resulted in an immediate recall and has worried consumer and health circles alike. The products were meant to be under quarantine, but they were still delivered, and this reveals that the respective supply chain has not been under close surveillance either.

Background to Recall

Tri-Union Seafoods, a large manufacturer of canned tuna merchandise, issued the first recall in February 2025. This recall occurred because Tri-Union Seafoods had an issue with packaging methods for some of its merchandise, which could have caused the seams of its cans to be less sealed, allowing more Clostridium botulinum, a bacterium causing botulism, a rare but fatal form of food poisoning, to enter.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says that the first recall was a safety measure to keep people from being exposed to the product. If the seal on the bad cans was broken or damaged, bacteria could have grown without anyone knowing. The affected products were certain kinds of tuna that had certain batch codes and expiration dates on them.

The Wrong Shipment and a New Recall

Even though the first recall and attempts to keep the affected stock separate, a third-party distributor mistakenly sent some of these quarantined cases to stores. The shipments contained items that were not supposed to be sold until further notice. It was only recently that retailers and regulators found the quarantined cans on store shelves and realized the mistake.

On Monday, the FDA sent out a safety alert to let people and stores know that these products might be dangerous. The alert says that even though the tuna products were recalled, they might still be in stores.

Information about the products that were recalled

The new recall affects the following products:

• Genova Yellowfin Tuna in Olive Oil (5 oz, 4-pack): The code is S84N D2L, and the "Best If Used By" date is January 21, 2028. S84N D3L can be used until January 24, 2028.
• Genova Yellowfin Tuna in Extra Virgin Olive Oil with Sea Salt (5 oz): The code is S88N D1M, and the "Best If Used By" date is January 17, 2028.

People who want high-quality canned tuna often choose products that are packaged under the Genova brand.

Retailers Affected

Several major retail chains in the United States have been affected by the recall of these products, including:

• Meijer stores in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin.
• Giant Foods stores in Maryland and Virginia.
• Safeway, Albertsons, Vons, and Pavilions stores in California.

People who shop at these stores are told to carefully check their stock and make sure the product codes and expiration dates are correct to find any cans that might be contaminated.

Learning about botulism and its signs

Botulism is a very rare bacterial infection that happens when the neurotoxin made by Clostridium botulinum gets into the body. The disease is not common, but it can be very serious and even deadly if not treated right away. Bacteria like low-acid, anaerobic environments, like canned foods that aren't sealed properly.

Botulism symptoms usually show up between 12 and 36 hours after eating food that has been contaminated. They consist of:

• Seeing things that are blurry or double
• Eyelids that droop
• Having trouble swallowing or talking
• Weakness in the muscles
• Problems with breathing
• Feeling sick and throwing up

Because the illness is so serious, people are told not to eat any canned tuna that has the same batch codes or expiration dates as the affected cans, even if the cans look normal or don't smell bad.

Advice for Consumers and What to Do Next

The FDA and Tri-Union Seafoods are telling people who bought the affected products to act right away. People who buy things should:

• If the tuna has the same batch codes or expiration dates as the ones that were recalled, don't eat it.
• You can get a full refund by taking the item back to the store where you bought it.
• You could also throw away the cans in a safe way.
• Customers who want a replacement or have questions can email Tri-Union Seafoods at support@thaiunionhelp.zendesk.com or call 833-374-0171.

Tri-Union Seafoods has indicated that they are doing their best to correct the delivery error and prevent it from occurring in the future. They are also providing customers asking for refunds with kits and vouchers to be retrieved in exchange.

Conclusion

This case highlights the need for control of the supply chain and communication among manufacturers, distributors, and retail shops, especially regarding food products which can be dangerous. This case in point regarding the shipment of canned tuna quarantined because of the risk of botulism shows how important it is to be vigilant at each point in a food supply chain.

People are encouraged to remain alert and cautious about health dangers from contaminated tuna eaten from canned products. Even though botulism is not very common, its symptoms can be very serious, and that is why prompt attention needs to be paid to it.