Tuna From NJ Company Recalled Over Toxic Bacteria, FDA Says

LAKEWOOD, NJ — Tuna packaged by a Lakewood company has been recalled due to a bacterial toxin, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The tuna was sold by Buckhead Meat Company, which is known as Trinity Seafood, according to the FDA notice issued Sept. 16.

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The recall affects 333 pounds of tuna that was packaged in styrofoam containers in amounts ranging from 3-5 pounds up to 15 pounds, the notice said.

It was initiated by the company after it was notified by the New Jersey Department of Health that samples of the tuna had tested positive for high levels of scombrotoxin, the FDA said.

Scombrotoxin causes scombroid poisoning, a type of food poisoning caused by the consumption of certain marine fish species that have begun to spoil with the growth of particular types of food bacteria, most commonly tuna and mackerel, the FDA says.

The bacteria and potential toxins are not destroyed by freezing, cooking, smoking, curing or canning, the FDA says.

Symptoms of scombroid poisoning can become evident within minutes to 2 hours following consumption, the FDA said.

"This rapid onset is one reason scombroid poisoning may be reported more often than many other food poisonings which react much slower," the agency said.

Initial symptoms mimic an allergic response, with facial flushing and sweating, burning-peppery taste sensations in the mouth and throat, dizziness, nausea and headache, and they can turn into facial rash, hives, edema, short-term diarrhea and abdominal cramps, the FDA said.

Severe cases may blur vision, and cause respiratory stress and tongue swelling, it said.

Scombroid poisoning is generally short-lived, with symptoms usually lasting 4 to 6 hours and rarely exceeding one to two days.

The affected tuna was sold in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut and Maryland, according to the FDA.

Buckhead, a subsidiary of Sysco, supplies fish and meat to restaurants, according to its website. The following code numbers are affected:

0004255 Vat # 59-01915, 58-11212, 59-01914, 58-11210, 58-11213, 59-01930, 59-01570, 58-11210, 59-0.