Bumble Bee, Tri-Union Seafoods issue recall of canned tuna products

A voluntary recall of canned chunk light tuna has been issued by both Bumble Bee Foods and Tri-Union Seafoods, citing possible health risks.

In separate statements, the companies claimed that deviations in the commercial sterilization process were at the heart of the decision to call back products.

"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," the companies’ statement said.

Steve Mavity, Bumble Bee's senior vice president, technical services and corporate quality, told CNN the recalls are related.

A routine inspection of Chicken of the Sea’s Georgia production facility, which is a third-party supplier for Bumble Bee, revealed a machinery part malfunction. The part has since been replaced with a properly functioning mechanism, according to John DeBeer, vice president of quality and compliance for Chicken of the Sea.

Wishing to practice “an abundance of caution due to the possible under-processing of the affected products," Bumble Bee is recalling 31,579 cases of the canned tuna with UPC codes 8660000020, 8660000021 and 8660000736. The tuna was produced in February 2016 and distributed nationally.

Meanwhile, Tri-Union Seafoods is recalling 2,745 cases of Chicken of the Sea brand canned tuna out of concern that it may be undercooked as the result of an equipment malfunction, the company said. The UPC codes for the Tri-Union recalls are 0 4800000195 5 and 0 4800000245 7; they were produced between 10 February and 16 March 2016.

Neither company is recalling any other products, as no others were affected. Consumers in possession of the recalled tuna should dispose of the products. For more information and reimbursement, consumers and retailers can contact Bumble Bee at 888-820-1947 or Tri-Union Seafoods at 866-600-2681.

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