Nearly 300 Tubs of Tuna Salad Pulled From Shelves in 5 States After Labeling Mix-Up Could Prove Fatal for Some Customers

Reser’s Fine Foods has recalled nearly 300 tubs of Molly’s Kitchen Tuna Salad after a packaging error left every individual container mislabeled as Chicken Salad. Because the tuna allergen was never listed on the tub, the FDA classified it as a Class I recall, its most serious designation, warning that consumption could lead to serious adverse health consequences for those with fish allergies. 

The error came down to the wrong lid. Tubs of Molly’s Kitchen Tuna Salad were sealed with lids printed for Chicken Salad, while only the outer shipping case correctly identified the contents. Every individual container that reached consumers, delis, and cafeterias carried no indication that it contained tuna, and no allergen warning of any kind. 

The recall, issued January 30, 2026, covers Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah, and Washington. The affected product is item number 3837959, sold in 2/5 LB cases with a use-by date of February 21, 2026. It reached CHEF’STORE locations, supermarkets, delis, and cafeterias across all five states before the error was identified. 

A Mislabel Triggered Federal Action

Tuna is recognized by the FDA as a top and serious allergen. Because the mislabeled tubs carried no allergen warning for tuna, the agency classified this as a Class I recall, reserved for situations where there is a reasonable probability that consuming a product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death.

Delis and cafeterias present their own concern. In those settings, products are often handled and served without the original packaging in view. Someone with a fish allergy ordering chicken salad at a counter would likely have had no way to know what was in the tub being used.

According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, reactions to finned fish like tuna can range from hives, nausea, and stomach cramps to anaphylaxis. While anaphylaxis is less common, fish allergies are a frequent cause of it, described by ACAAI as a reaction that “appears quickly, impairs breathing and can send the body into shock.” 

Why the Error Was Easy to Miss

The individual lid presented a complete product name with no visible sign of a mismatch. For a shopper with a fish allergy, a clearly labeled container from a known brand would likely raise no red flags at the point of purchase. 

The individual tub offered no correction. It said one thing, and the actual contents were another. Only the outer master shipping case carried the correct product name, meaning the error was invisible to anyone who never handled the original bulk packaging, which is essentially everyone who bought it. 

Affected tubs carry lot number 1410100754, and UPC 7 5810830149 8, but the product had already reached retailers and food service operators across five states by the time the recall was issued. With a use-by date of February 21, 2026, the tubs were still within their shelf life and possibly still being served when the recall was announced.

What To Do If You Have This Product at Home

Shoppers in Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah, or Washington who purchased Molly’s Kitchen Tuna Salad under a Chicken Salad lid should immediately stop using the product. Those who bought it at a CHEF’STORE location can return it within 30 days of January 30, 2026, for a full refund. Item number 3837959 is the only affected product. 

Anyone with a tuna or fish allergy who may have already consumed this product should contact a medical professional. Those with questions can reach their local CHEF’STORE location where the product was purchased for further assistance.

The use-by date on affected tubs has already passed, but the recall is still active. Anyone in the five affected states who has the product should return it to the CHEF’STORE location where it was purchased.