Canned Tuna Sold at Costco, Trader Joe’s, Walmart, and Other Stores Recalled Due to Botulism Risk

The tuna was sold in 26 states and Washington, D.C.

By Lisa L. Gill
Investigative Reporter

February 13, 2025

Certain lots of canned tuna sold under the Genova, H-E-B, Trader Joe’s, and Van Camp’s brands have been recalled because there’s a risk they may be contaminated with clostridium botulinum, the manufacturer Tri-Union Seafoods announced. No one has become ill, and no other products produced by Tri-Union Seafoods are affected.

In the announcement, the company says that the “easy open” pull tab lid on some of the cans is defective and the cans may not be properly sealed. “When a can is damaged, it creates the opportunity for the botulism bacteria to grow,” says James E. Rogers, PhD, director of food safety research and testing at Consumer Reports. “Signs of damage to the can include cracks, bulging, and leaking, but if you bought the recalled tuna, you should not eat it even if the packaging looks okay, or the tuna smells and looks fine when you open it.” Return the recalled products for a refund or throw them out.

Tri-Union Seafoods did not respond to CR’s question as to how the canned tuna easy-open tabs became defective.

The recalled tunas are:
• H-E-B Solid White Tuna in Water, 5 oz. Sold at stores in Texas.

• Genova Solid White and Yellow Fin Tuna in Olive Oil, 7 oz. Sold at Costco in Florida and Georgia.

• Genova Yellow Fin Tuna in Extra Virgin Olive Oil with Sea Salt, 5 oz. Sold 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.

• Trader Joe’s Solid Light Yellowfin Tuna in Olive Oil, Solid White Tuna in Water, Solid White Water Low Sodium, and Solid White Water No Salt Added. Sold at stores 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.

• Van Camp’s Solid White Tuna in Oil, 5 oz. Sold at Walmart and independent retailers in Florida, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.

If you bought these brands of tuna at any of these locations, check the “Best if used by” dates, UPC numbers, and can codes against the list of recalled items on the Food and Drug Administration’s website.

Consumers with questions can contact Tri-Union Seafoods via email at support@thaiunionhelp.zendesk.com or 833-374-0171, Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET.

What Is Botulism?

You don’t hear much about foodborne botulism in the news these days—thankfully because it is so rare. But, “the toxin produced by the bacteria is considered the most potent toxin on Earth,” Rogers says.

The bacteria Clostridium botulinum can produce a toxin that affects the nerves in the body and can cause paralysis, difficulty breathing, and death. If you experience muscle weakness, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, diarrhea, trouble swallowing, double vision, droopy eyelids, slurred speech, difficulty moving your eyes or breathing, get yourself to the emergency room as fast as possible, says Rogers.

The biggest risk of foodborne botulism comes from home-canned foods that haven’t been processed properly.

Lisa L. Gill

Lisa L. Gill is an award-winning investigative reporter. She has been at Consumer Reports since 2008, covering health and food safety—heavy metals in the food supply and foodborne illness—plus healthcare and prescription drug costs, medical debt, and credit scores. Lisa also testified before Congress and the Food and Drug Administration about her work on drug costs and drug safety. She lives in a DIY tiny home, where she gardens during the day and stargazes the Milky Way at night.