On May 18, Hilo Fish Co. began recalling tuna from Sustainable Seafood Co. and Santa Cruz Seafood that tested positive for the hepatitis A virus.
While the Centers for Disease Control and prevention isn’t aware of any illnesses linked to these products, it’s advising a vaccination of post exposure prophylaxis for unvaccinated persons who may have eaten the contaminated tuna within the past two weeks.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is providing a list of establishments in Texas, Oklahoma, and California that may currently have contaminated tuna to help alert consumers that may be at risk of the hepatitis A virus. Contact your health care professional if you think you have been exposed to contaminated tuna.
The current recall resulted from follow-up after the Hawaii Department of Health notified the FDA of a frozen tuna sample, from PT Deho Canning Co., which tested positive for hepatitis A on May 1. The initially recalled product has been removed from circulation and the newly recalled frozen tuna lots weren’t shipped to Hawaii, but were shipped to the mainland United States.
The current recall, which began May 18, includes Tuna Steaks, 8 ounce individually vacuum packed bags, production date code: 627152, Lot number: 166623; Expiration date: 2018-10-01 and Frozen Yellowfin tuna cubes, random; Individually vacuum packed; 15 pound case, date code: 705342, Lot number: 173448; Expiration dates: 2019-04-01.
The first recall, which took place in Hawaii, consisted of imported raw frozen ahi tuna cubes from PT Deho Canning Co. That recall by Tropic Fish includes lot codes 609149 and 609187. No products are believed to remain on the market, the CDC said.
The FDA is collecting additional frozen tuna samples and increasing its screening measures and testing for imported seafood for these companies.
In addition, the agency has prepared a list of restaurants and other retail locations that received the recalled frozen tuna. The FDA will continue to update this list as its investigation continues.
Hepatitis A is a contagious liver disease that results from infection with the hepatitis A virus. It can range in severity from a mild illness lasting a few weeks to a severe illness lasting several months.
Symptoms in adults include fatigue, abdominal pain, jaundice, abnormal liver tests, dark urine, and pale stool.
