Raw Tuna Steak with ingredients on a cutting board
Nearly 333 pounds of tuna distributed across five states are being recalled after testing detected elevated levels of a toxin that can cause food poisoning, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Dig deeper:
The recall covers 332.9 pounds of Buckhead tuna distributed in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and Maryland, the FDA said.
The agency classified the recall as Class II, meaning use of or exposure to the product “may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences.”
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The recalled tuna was sold in refrigerated Styrofoam containers in 10-pound, 12-pound, 15-pound and 3-to-5-pound cases. The product number is 0004255.
The recall began after the company was notified by the New Jersey Department of Health that two tuna samples tested positive for elevated levels of scombrotoxin.
The company initiated the recall July 24, and the FDA classified it as Class II on Sept. 16. The recall remains ongoing.
The FDA describes scombroid poisoning as “a unique form of food poisoning caused by consumption of certain marine fish species that have experienced partial bacterial spoilage.”
The illness typically occurs when fish such as tuna and mackerel begin to spoil as bacteria grow, potentially causing elevated levels of histamine.
The toxins are not destroyed by freezing, cooking, smoking, curing or canning, according to the FDA.
Why you should care:
People exposed to scombrotoxin typically do not experience severe or long-term illness, the agency said. Symptoms can resemble an allergic reaction and may include facial rash, hives, swelling, short-term diarrhea and abdominal cramps.
What you can do:
The FDA recommends properly handling fish such as tuna and keeping it refrigerated or immediately freezing it to help prevent bacterial growth and spoilage.
The Source: FOX Business contributed to this report. The information comes from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which provided details about the Buckhead tuna recall, the amount of product involved, the Class II designation, the cause of the recall and the potential symptoms associated with scombroid poisoning. This story was reported from Los Angeles.
