Recalled Canned Tuna Was Accidentally Sold Nationwide

Shoppers who thought a 2025 tuna recall was old news are getting a rude surprise. FDA is warning that canned tuna tied to a previous safety recall has quietly made its way back onto store shelves at major chains. A product that was supposed to be quarantined was instead shipped out and sold to everyday shoppers.

In a company notice shared by the FDA, Tri-Union Seafoods said a third-party distributor “inadvertently released quarantined product” that had been swept up in a February 2025 recall. That earlier recall covered select lots of Genova, Van Camp’s, H-E-B and Trader Joe’s canned tuna, after a supplier warned that certain “easy open” pull-tab lids could fail and allow contamination with Clostridium botulinum, the bacterium that causes botulism.

Now, some of those same cans have resurfaced in Meijer, Giant Foods, Safeway, Albertsons, Vons and Pavilions stores across multiple states, prompting fresh alerts. A breakdown in the supply chain turned what should have been safely quarantined stock into a live food-safety issue, and consumers are once again being told to check their pantries carefully.

How the Recalled Tuna Ended Up Back on Shelves

Tri-Union’s original 2025 recall was voluntary and proactive. The company told the FDA it was pulling specific lots of canned tuna, sold under the Genova, Van Camp’s, H-E-B and Trader Joe’s labels, “out of an abundance of caution” after learning that a manufacturing defect in the pull-tab lids could compromise the seal, leading cans to leak or become contaminated over time. No illnesses had been reported, but the company warned shoppers not to use the product “even if it does not look or smell spoiled.”

According to the January 2026 announcement by FDA, quarantined cases from that recall were later shipped out by mistake. Tri-Union said a third-party distributor inadvertently sent Genova yellowfin tuna to a limited set of retailers: Meijer stores in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin; Giant Foods in Maryland and Virginia; and Safeway, Albertsons, Vons and Pavilions locations in California.

The affected products include Genova Yellowfin Tuna in Olive Oil 5-oz four-packs and Genova Yellowfin Tuna in Extra Virgin Olive Oil with Sea Salt 5-oz cans, with specific UPCs, can codes, and “Best if Used By” dates in 2028 printed on the bottom. FDA photos on page 3 of the recall notice show the familiar brown Genova 4-pack sleeve with “Yellowfin Tuna in Olive Oil” and an “Easy Open” banner—details shoppers can match against cans at home.

Why Botulism Makes This Recall So Serious

The risk behind this recall isn’t a minor quality issue—it’s botulism. In both the 2025 and 2026 notices, Tri-Union warns that a defective lid could allow Clostridium botulinum to grow inside the can, creating a toxin that can cause a “potentially fatal form of food poisoning.”

Botulism can lead to trouble breathing, muscle paralysis and, in severe cases, death, citing guidance from the USDA and CDC. Because the bacteria can grow in sealed, low-oxygen environments, canned foods with compromised seals are a known risk. The problem is that contaminated cans may look, smell and taste normal until symptoms appear.

That’s why regulators are so blunt: do not eat recalled tuna, even if it appears fine. FDA urges consumers to discard or return the product rather than “testing” it by smell or taste. Anyone who has eaten tuna from the affected lots and begins to feel unwell, especially experiencing blurred vision, difficulty speaking, or muscle weakness, is advised to seek immediate medical care.

What You Should Do If You Bought the Recalled Tuna

For shoppers, the first step is a simple pantry audit. If you buy Genova tuna, especially 5-oz and 4-pack yellowfin products in olive oil, pull the cans out and check the bottom for the UPC, can code, and “Best if Used By” dates listed in the FDA announcement. If they match the recalled lots, do not open or eat them.

The FDA and Tri-Union say consumers have several options: return the cans to the store where they were purchased (Meijer, Giant Foods, Safeway, Albertsons, Vons, or Pavilions) for a full refund; throw them away in a manner that keeps people and pets from accessing them; or contact Tri-Union Seafoods directly for a retrieval kit and a coupon for replacement product. The company has set up a toll-free line at 833-374-0171 and an email address: [email protected], available Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern.

While the distribution error affects a limited set of stores and codes, the incident is a reminder that recalls don’t always end when the first announcement fades from the news. Keeping an eye on FDA alerts, checking lot codes when recalls surface, and treating serious warnings like botulism with extra caution can go a long way toward keeping pantry staples safe. In this case, the safest move is also the simplest: if your tuna matches the recalled cans, don’t eat it.