Tuna Recall: Potential 'Life-Threatening' Contamination Forces HEB, Bumble Bee, Chicken of the Sea into Recall [UPDATE]

AUSTIN, TX -- Add HEB's brand of canned tuna to the line of products being recalled for potential contamination due to under-cooking.

The grocer has issued a voluntary recall for some of the tuna products it sells at its stores. The recall covers 224 cases (about 10,752 cans) of the Hill Country Fare brand of chunk light tuna in oil.

HEB officials say the five-ounce cans produced by a co-packer, may have been under-cooked. This could lead to life-threatening contaminants from organisms or pathogens formed from spoilage, officials of the Food & Drug Administration said after a similar recall earlier this week.

The makers of Bumble Bee and Chicken of the Sea tuna issued voluntary recalls this week after discovering equipment malfunction that may have led to their tuna products being under-cooked (see story below).

“These deviations were part of the commercial sterilization process and could result in contamination by spoilage organisms or pathogens, which could lead to life-threatening illness if consumed,” H-E-B said in a prepared statement.

There have been no reported illnesses to date as a result of the recall, company officials noted.

"H-E-B is issuing this voluntary recall in abundance of caution to ensure the highest level of food safety and quality,” company officials said.

The recalled tuna was sold between Feb. 24 and March 16. The products bear a UPC code of 041220653355. The cans also contain a product lot code of 6O9FZSCEES and a “Best By" date of Feb. 9, 2019.

Company officials said the tuna can be returned to any H-E-B store for a full refund.

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From March 17:

AUSTIN, TX -- A nationwide tuna recall for potential "life-threatening" contamination includes the popular Bumble Bee and Chicken of the Sea brands, the FDA reports today.

specific UPC codes of canned Chunk Light tuna were recalled because of deviations from the standard commercial sterilization process that occurred in a co-pack facility not owned or operated by the tuna companies.

These deviations could result in contamination by spoilage organisms or pathogens, which could lead to "life-threatening illness if consumed," according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

There have been no reports of illness associated with these products to date. No other production codes or products are affected by this recall, according to an FDA release.

A total of 31,579 Bumble Bee cases produced in February 2016 and distributed nationally are included in the recall.

Chicken of the Sea has recalled 107,280 cans.

How to Check Your Tuna

The Bumble Bee products subject to this recall are marked with a can code that starts with a "T" (example: TOA2BSCAFB) and have the following "best by" dates:

• 5oz Bumble Bee Chunk Light Tuna in Water, Best by Dates: 02/10/2019, 02/16/2019, 02/17/2019, 02/18/2019, 02/22/2019, 02/23/2019, 02/25/2019

• 5oz Bumble Bee Chunk Light Tuna in Oil, Best by Dates: 02/23/2019

• Pack of 5oz Bumble Bee Chunk Light Tuna in Water, Best by Dates: 02/9/2019, 02/10/2019, 02/22/2019, 02/29/2019

The Chicken of the Sea products recalled include:

• Chicken of the Sea 5 Oz. Canned Chunk Light Tuna in Oil sold in single cans between Feb. 10, 2016 and March 16, 2016. The UPC code is 0 4800000195 5 and the Best By date is 2/10/19

• Chicken of the Sea 5 Oz. Canned Chunk Light Tuna in Water sold at retailers nationwide in single cans between Feb. 18, 2016 and March 16, 2016. The UPC code is 0 4800000245 7. The "Best By" dates are: 2/18/19, 2/22/19, 2/23/19, 2/25/19, 3/2/19, 3/3/19