Salmonella-Tainted Tuna Recalled In Illinois

ILLINOIS — Frozen, ground tuna shipped to Illinois has been recalled due to a multi-state outbreak of Salmonella illnesses. The outbreak has been linked to Louisiana-based Jensen Tuna and was imported from JK Fish in Vietnam, according to a recall notice posted Tuesday by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The product was individually packaged in 1-pound bags and sold in 20-pound boxes. At least seven states — Connecticut, Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, New York, North Dakota, and Washington – received the products under lot numbers z266, z271, and z272. More states could’ve also received the product.

Thirteen illnesses have been reported dating from Jan. 8 to March 20. That includes one person from Illinois. Two people had to be hospitalized nationwide.

The FDA said it’s unlikely that consumers would’ve bought the tuna directly from a grocery store. It’s more likely to have been sold in restaurants and retailers.

“Consumers who order sushi made with raw tuna, including ‘spicy tuna,’ should ask the restaurant or grocery store if the tuna is from Jensen Tuna,” the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention wrote on its website. “If you are not sure if the tuna has been recalled, do not eat it.”

Salmonella, a group of bacteria, can cause gastrointestinal illness and fever known as salmonellosis. Symptoms typically develop between 12 hours and three days after infection. This includes diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps, though more severe cases can lead to high fever, headaches, lethargy, rash, bloody urine or stool, and even death. Patients can remain sick for up to a week, though most recover without treatment.

An investigation remains ongoing.

The Illinois Department of Public Health said that anyone who experiences symptoms 12 to 72 hours after eating ground tuna should contact a health care provider and let them know you have recently eaten ground tuna. IDPH also shared these tips:

• Do not eat recalled frozen ground tuna. Even if you do not develop symptoms after eating the recalled tuna, you should still throw it away.
• If you cannot determine if the tuna you purchased was produced by Jensen Tuna, do not eat it and throw it away. Check your refrigerator and freezer for recalled products and throw them away or return them to the place of purchase for a refund.
• Retailers and restaurants should not sell or serve recalled frozen ground tuna products supplied by Jensen Tuna.

Patch national staffer Dan Hampton contributed to this report.