Several Types Of Seafood Recalled Over Health Risks [Recall Roundup]

What to know summary:

Federal agencies have announced a slew of recalls over the past two weeks. Recalls include:

• Tuna sold at Costco, Trader Joe’s, Walmart and other national retailers was recalled due to botulism risks.
• An oyster harvesting area in Louisiana was closed and all oysters taken from the area were recalled after 234 confirmed cases of norovirus in a multi-state outbreak.
• Gerber is recalling and discontinuing all of its Soothe N Chew Teething Sticks after getting reports from parents whose babies choked on them.

The details of these and other recalls are found below.

Tuna May Contain Botulism

A California-based company has recalled canned tuna sold at some of the nation's largest retailers due to the risk of a potentially-fatal form of food poisoning, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Tri-Union Seafoods, of El Segundo, is recalling select lots of canned tuna products that were sold nationally under the Genova, Van Camp’s, H-E-B, and Trader Joe’s brand names. The company has said customers should not eat any affected product, "even if it does not look or smell spoiled."

The company said that the “easy open” pull tab can on some of the cans has a manufacturing defect, which can cause the cans to leak or be contaminated with botulism — a rare but serious illness that attacks the body’s nervous system.

The affected products were sold at

• H-E-B label: Texas;
• Trader Joe’s label: Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington D.C., and Wisconsin;
• Genova 7 oz.: Costco in Florida and Georgia;
• Genova 5 oz: Harris Teeter, Publix, H-E-B, Kroger, Safeway, Walmart and independent retailers in Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, New Jersey, Tennessee and Texas;
• Van Camp’s label: Walmart and independent retailers in Pennsylvania, Florida and New Jersey.
• Read more information.

Norovirus In Oysters

At least 234 people were sickened with norovirus, including two people who were hospitalized and eight who visited emergency rooms, after eating oysters harvested from a specific farm in Louisiana, the state’s health department said.

All oysters harvested from the area since Jan. 10 have been recalled, including shucked, frozen, breaded, post-harvest processed and oysters for the half-shell. The oysters were distributed in Louisiana and Mississippi. Those who were sickened live in Florida, Mississippi and Alabama. All other oysters taken outside of harvesting Area 3 are safe to eat, according to the health department.

Gerber Recalls All Teething Sticks

Gerber Products Co. is recalling and discontinuing all batches of its Soothe N Chew Teething Stick because babies and young children may choke on them, according to the Food & Drug Administration.

Gerber initiated the recall after receiving consumer complaints on choking incidents, including one in which the child had to be taken to the emergency room, according to the FDA.

Consumers who may have purchased Gerber Teething Sticks should not feed the product to their child and can return the product to the retailer where it was purchased for a refund. Anyone concerned about an injury or illness should contact a health care provider. For any additional support needed, Gerber is available around the clock at 800-443-7237.

The products were sold nationwide online and in retail stores in 45 states.

Trader Joe’s Recalls Popular Breakfast Item

Trader Joe’s is recalling its 10-ounce Organic Acai Bowls, because they may contain pieces of plastic, causing a choking or injury hazard, according to a notice on the specialty grocer’s website.

All units of the product, which contains berries, bananas, granola and dried coconut, are affected by the recall. Consumers who have the bowls in their freezers should dispose of them or return them to their local Trader Joe’s for a refund.

Questions may be directed to Trader Joe’s customer relations at 626-599-3817 or fill out the chain’s product feedback form online.

Tesla Power Steering Issues

Tesla is recalling about 375,000 vehicles sold in the United States because they may lose power steering in low-speed situations, increasing the risk of a crash, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Friday.

The printed circuit board for the electronic power steering assist may become overstressed, leading to a loss of power steering assist when the vehicle stops and then accelerates again, the NHTSA said.

Certain Model 3 sedans and Model Y crossovers vehicles running on older software are affected.

The recall follows a more than year-long NHTSA probe after some Tesla owners reported steering failures. Some said they were unable to turn the steering wheel, while others said it required increased effort. More than 50 Tesla owners reported they had to call a tow truck last year because of the issue, the NHTSA said.

Reuters reported in late 2023 that tens of thousands of owners of the affected vehicles experienced premature failures of suspension or steering parts since 2016, citing Tesla documents and interviews with customers and former employees.

Ford Recalls 240,000 SUVs

Ford Motor Co. is recalling 240,510 model year 2020-2021 Ford Explorer and Lincoln Aviator vehicles because the seat belt may not restrain people in a crash, increasing the risk of injury or death, according to the NHTSA.

Affected vehicles may have an improperly secured seatbelt buckle anchor bolt at one or more seating positions, the agency said. Vehicles may also have an improperly secured seatbelt retractor anchor bolt and/or seatbelt anchor bolt at the second-row center seating position, if equipped.

Ford and Lincoln dealers will inspect seat belt buckle anchor bolts in all seating positions, and will also inspect the seat belt retractor anchor bolt and seat belt anchor bolt at the second-row center seating position, if equipped. If loose anchor bolts are found, replacements will be made at no charge to the vehicle owner.