Tri-Union Tuna Recall Renewed After Contaminated Cans Sold in 9 States

Canned tuna previously recalled over a potentially fatal botulism risk was mistakenly sent back to store shelves in nine U.S. states, prompting a renewed federal warning and calls for consumers to check their pantries. Tri-Union Seafoods said quarantined Genova Yellowfin Tuna linked to a February 2025 recall was “inadvertently” released by a third-party distributor and sold at several major grocery chains, although no illnesses had been reported as of this week nbcnews +1.

The error involved select Genova Yellowfin Tuna products with defective “easy open” pull-tab lids that could compromise the can’s seal and allow the growth of Clostridium botulinum, the bacteria that produces a toxin considered among the most potent in the world nbcnews +1. The affected cans reached stores in California, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Ohio, Virginia and Wisconsin through Meijer, Giant Foods, Safeway, Albertsons, Vons and Pavilions locations filmogaz +1.

Which Tuna Products Are Affected?

The renewed alert covered a narrow set of Genova-branded items tied to the original February 7, 2025 voluntary recall. They include Genova Yellowfin Tuna in Olive Oil 5.0 oz 4‑packs (UPC 4800073265) with can codes S84N D2L and S84N D3L and “Best if Used By” dates of January 21, 2028 and January 24, 2028, and Genova Yellowfin Tuna in Extra Virgin Olive Oil with Sea Salt 5.0 oz (UPC 4800013275) with can code S88N D1M and a “Best if Used By” date of January 17, 2028 filmogaz +1.

Those cans were part of a much broader 2025 recall that also involved Van Camp’s, H‑E‑B and Trader Joe’s tuna products distributed to 26 states and Washington, D.C., after Tri‑Union’s lid supplier disclosed a manufacturing defect in some pull-tab lids nbcnews +1. Federal regulators urged consumers not to taste or use any of the recalled cans, even if they appear normal, but instead to return them for a refund, discard them, or request a retrieval kit and replacement coupon from the company filmogaz +1.

How Did a Quarantined Product Reach Shelves Again?

Tri‑Union said the mistakenly sold cans had been placed in quarantine following the 2025 recall but were later released in error by an unnamed third‑party distributor and shipped into regular retail channels filmogaz. The incident highlighted ongoing vulnerabilities in food supply chains, where recalled inventory can circulate if tracking and quarantine controls break down across multiple handlers.

Food safety specialists warned that even a small number of compromised cans poses serious risk because botulism can cause paralysis and death, often without obvious signs of spoilage. “If you bought the recalled tuna, you should not eat it even if the packaging looks okay, or the tuna smells and looks fine,” said Consumer Reports food safety director James E. Rogers, noting that damaged or defective cans create an ideal environment for the bacteria to grow msn.

Looking Ahead

The tuna reshipment incident underscored how a single packaging defect can ripple through a complex distribution network for more than a year, from the initial 2025 recall to the 2026 warning. Regulators and consumer advocates are likely to press for tighter chain‑of‑custody systems and real‑time tracking of recalled goods, even as Tri‑Union and the FDA continue urging shoppers in the nine affected states to double-check their shelves and seek immediate medical care if they develop symptoms after eating canned tuna filmogaz +1.