Highest risk U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Genova, Van Camp’s, H-E-B, Trader Joe’s Canned tuna recall: Potential Foodborne Illness - Botulism

Recall published 1+ years ago

Potential Foodborne Illness - Botulism

The hazard: Botulism risk

The concern here is Clostridium botulinum. Under-processed shelf-stable food can allow the toxin to form inside a sealed, normal-looking container.

What the notice says: This voluntary recall is out of an abundance of caution following the notification from our supplier that the “easy open” pull tab can lid on limited products encountered a manufacturing defect that may compromise the integrity of the product seal (especially over time), causing it to leak, or worse, be contaminated with clostridium botulinum, a potentially fatal form of food poisoning.

Why it matters: This product may not have been processed in a way that reliably destroys Clostridium botulinum spores. The toxin they can produce in a sealed container is one of the most dangerous substances in food safety, and it is tasteless and odourless.

Symptoms and when to call a doctor

Botulism is a medical emergency. The CDC lists double or blurred vision, drooping eyelids, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing, a dry mouth, and muscle weakness that starts in the face and moves down the body. In an infant, watch for poor feeding, a weak cry, drooping eyelids and unusual floppiness. Call 911 or go to an emergency department immediately if any of these appear after eating a recalled product — treatment works best when it is given early.

This page is general information, not medical advice. If you feel unwell, a clinician who can see you is the only person able to judge your case.

Recall details

Published
February 7, 2025
Risk level
Highest risk
Issued by
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Brand
Genova, Van Camp’s, H-E-B, Trader Joe’s
Product type
Seafood
Distribution
Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas
Sold at
Harris Teeter, Walmart, Safeway, Kroger, Publix, H-E-B
Reports of harm
No illnesses associated with the recalled products have been reported and the recall is being conducted to ensure consumer safety.

Products covered by this recall

Canned tuna

What the company announced

EL SEGUNDO, CA, February 7, 2025 – Tri-Union Seafoods has made the decision to voluntarily recall select lots of canned tuna products sold under the Genova®, Van Camp’s®, H-E-B and Trader Joe’s brand names. This voluntary recall is out of an abundance of caution following the notification from our supplier that the “easy open” pull tab can lid on limited products encountered a manufacturing defect that may compromise the integrity of the product seal (especially over time), causing it to leak, or worse, be contaminated with clostridium botulinum, a potentially fatal form of food poisoning. Consumers are warned not to use the product even if it does not look or smell spoiled. Consumers feeling unwell should seek immediate medical attention. No illnesses associated with the recalled products have been reported and the recall is being conducted to ensure consumer safety.

The impacted products were distributed to retail stores as follows:

H-E-B label - Texas

Trader Joe’s label – 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 oz. - Costco in Florida and Georgia

Genova 5 oz. - 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 label – Walmart and independent retailers in Pennsylvania, Florida and New Jersey

Recalled products include specific can codes and Best if Used By dates indicated on the bottom of the cans, and UPC numbers listed below.

If you have a recalled tuna can, please return it to the retailer for a full refund, throw it away, or contact Tri-Union Seafoods directly for a retrieval kit and a coupon for a replacement product. Consumers can contact Tri-Union Seafoods at [email protected] or 833-374-0171, if they have any questions or to request replacement product. The toll-free number hours are Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. EST.

This recall does not impact any other Tri-Union Seafoods products, as no other product packaging was impacted by this potential defect. Tri-Union Seafoods is committed to upholding the highest safety and quality standards.

For media inquiries, contact [email protected] .

Tri-Union Seafoods advises that consumers in possession of any product with the below Lot Codes should dispose of the product. Below is a list of specific Lots impacted:

  • Description: Genova
  • Description: Genova Solid White Tuna in Olive Oil 5.0 oz · UPC: 4800000215 · Can Code: S94N 42K · Best if Used By Date: 12/12/2027
  • Description: S94N 43K · UPC: 12/12/2027
  • Description: S94N 44K · UPC: 12/12/2027
  • Description: S94N D1L · UPC: 1/24/2028
  • Description: Genova Yellowfin Tuna in Olive Oil 5.0 oz · UPC: 4800013265 · Can Code: S84N D1N · Best if Used By Date: 1/13/2028
  • Description: S84N D2M · UPC: 1/17/2028
  • Description: Genova Yellowfin Tuna in Olive Oil 5.0 oz 4 Pack · UPC: 4800073265 · Can Code: S84N 41M · Best if Used By Date: 12/13/2027
  • Description: S84N 42M · UPC: 12/13/2027
  • Description: S84N 42N · UPC: 12/13/2027
  • Description: S84N 43N · UPC: 12/13/2027
  • Description: S84N D1L · UPC: 1/21/2028
  • Description: S84N D1L · UPC: 1/23/2028
  • Description: S84N D3L · UPC: 1/24/2028
  • Description: Genova Yellowfin Tuna in Olive Oil 7.0 oz 6 Pack · UPC: 4800063267 · Can Code: S84N D1D · Best if Used By Date: 1/21/2028
  • Description: S84N D1D · UPC: 1/23/2028
  • Description: S84N D3D · UPC: 1/23/2028
  • Description: S84N D1D · UPC: 1/27/2028
  • Description: S84N D2D · UPC: 1/27/2028
  • Description: Genova Yellowfin Tuna in in Extra Virgin Olive Oil with Sea Salt 5.0 oz · UPC: 4800013275 · Can Code: S88N D1M · Best if Used By Date: 1/17/2028
  • Description: Van Camp's Seafood
  • Description: Van Camp’s Solid Light Tuna in Oil 5.0 oz · UPC: 4800025015 · Can Code: S83N 45K · Best if Used By Date: 12/2/2027
  • Description: Van Camp’s Solid Light Tuna in Oil 5 oz 4 Pack · UPC: 4800075015 · Can Code: S83N 45K · Best if Used By Date: 12/2/2027
  • Description: Trader Joe's
  • Description: Trader Joe’s Solid Light Yellowfin Tuna in Olive Oil · UPC: 51403 · Can Code: S74N D2M · Best if Used By Date: 1/10/2028
  • Description: Trader Joe’s Solid White Tuna in Olive Oil · UPC: 99287 · Can Code: S94N D3N · Best if Used By Date: 1/13/2028
  • Description: S94N D4N · UPC: 1/13/2028
  • Description: Trader Joe’s Solid White Tuna in Water · UPC: 99285 · Can Code: S92N D1L · Best if Used By Date: 1/9/2028
  • Description: S92N D2L · UPC: 1/9/2028
  • Description: Trader Joe’s Solid White Water Low Sodium · UPC: 95836 · Can Code: S91N 41K · Best if Used By Date: 12/12/2027
  • Description: S91N 43M · UPC: 12/13/2027
  • Description: S91N 44M · UPC: 12/13/2027
  • UPC: 99284 · Can Code: S90N D2N · Best if Used By Date: 1/8/2028
  • Description: Trader Joe’s Solid White Water No Salt Added · Can Code: S90N D1M · Best if Used By Date: 1/9/2028
  • Description: S90N D2N · UPC: 1/9/2028
  • Description: H-E-B
  • Description: H-E-B Solid White Tuna in Water 5.0 oz 4 Pack · UPC: 4122043345 · Can Code: S9FA 45K · Best if Used By Date: 12/12/2027
  • Description: S9FA 46K · UPC: 12/12/2027

Reproduced from the company announcement posted on fda.gov. Links and contact forms in the original are not repeated here; the official notice below has them.

Check your product

The notice names 18 codes you can read straight off the package. Type the one printed on yours and the list below narrows to it.

Best-by / use-by date

Printed beside the lot code, not on the price sticker.

  • 12/12/2027
  • 1/13/2028
  • 12/13/2027
  • 1/21/2028
  • 1/17/2028
  • 12/2/2027
  • 1/10/2028
  • 1/9/2028
  • 1/8/2028

Package size

Match the net weight or the piece count on the front of the pack.

  • 7 oz
  • 5 oz
  • 5.0 oz
  • 1 L
  • 4 Pack
  • 3 L
  • 7.0 oz
  • 6 Pack
  • 2 L

Codes are lifted verbatim from the FDA — Company recall announcements notice. A code that is missing here may still be covered — the official notice is the complete list.

What to do about Botulism

Genova, Van Camp’s, H-E-B, Trader Joe’s — The concern here is Clostridium botulinum. Under-processed shelf-stable food can allow the toxin to form inside a sealed, normal-looking container.

  1. Do not taste it. Not even a small amount, and not to check whether it has turned.
  2. Throw it away so nobody else can retrieve it, or follow the disposal wording in the official notice if it specifies a method.
  3. Wash anything the contents spilled on with a bleach solution and wear gloves while you do it.
  4. If anyone has eaten it and has blurred vision, trouble swallowing or weakness, call 911 — this does not wait for an appointment.

Getting a refund without the pack

The commonest reason people skip the refund is that they have already thrown the item away. That rarely matters.

  • A photo of the label and lot code is accepted by most grocers, and so is a card statement line showing the purchase.
  • Store credit is often offered first. You can ask for the original payment method instead, and it is normally granted.
  • No photo either? Ask anyway. Grocery chains settle recall refunds at the service desk because disputing them costs more than paying them.
  • For a multi-pack or a case, ask for the full purchase price rather than a per-unit figure — the recall covers what you paid.

Remedy named in the notice: If you have a recalled tuna can, please return it to the retailer for a full refund, throw it away, or contact Tri-Union Seafoods directly for a retrieval kit and a coupon for a replacement product.

Company contact: Tri-Union Seafoods — Consumers: Tri-Union Seafoods, 833-374-0171, [email protected] — Media: [email protected]

The official notice

This page summarises a notice published by U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The agency notice is the authoritative version — read it before you act, and treat it as the final word if anything here looks different.

Open the FDA — Company recall announcements record U.S. Food and Drug Administration recalls

Questions people ask about this recall

Why was Genova, Van Camp’s, H-E-B, Trader Joe’s seafood recalled?

Potential Foodborne Illness - Botulism This voluntary recall is out of an abundance of caution following the notification from our supplier that the “easy open” pull tab can lid on limited products encountered a manufacturing defect that may compromise the integrity of the product seal (especially over time), causing it to leak, or worse, be contaminated with clostridium botulinum, a potentially fatal form of food poisoning.

How do I know if I have the recalled product?

Match the codes printed on your package against the notice: best-by date 12/12/2027 or 1/13/2028. If the code on your package is not on that list, your unit is outside the recall.

What should I do with it right now?

Do not taste it. Not even a small amount, and not to check whether it has turned.

Can I get my money back?

The notice says: If you have a recalled tuna can, please return it to the retailer for a full refund, throw it away, or contact Tri-Union Seafoods directly for a retrieval kit and a coupon for a replacement product.

Which states were affected?

The notice lists Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas.

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