New Jersey Company Recalls Nearly 333 Pounds of Tuna Due to Toxin Levels

Buckhead Meat Company, operating as Trinity Seafood in Lakewood, New Jersey, has recalled approximately 333 pounds of tuna due to elevated levels of scombrotoxin. The voluntary recall was initiated on July 24 after the New Jersey Department of Health informed the company of high toxin levels found in two tuna samples.

Scombrotoxin can lead to scombroid poisoning, a condition with symptoms that can manifest within minutes to two hours of consumption. These symptoms often resemble an allergic reaction and may include facial flushing, sweating, dizziness, nausea, headache, hives, and abdominal cramps. In more severe cases, individuals may experience blurred vision, respiratory distress, and swelling of the tongue.

The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) classified the recall as Class II on September 16, nearly eight weeks after the company began the recall process. A Class II recall indicates that the use or exposure to a recalled product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health effects, or where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is considered remote.

The affected tuna was distributed in New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and Maryland. The recall encompasses 332.9 pounds of Buckhead tuna, which was packaged in Styrofoam containers labeled "Keep Refrigerated." The fish was sold in various case sizes, including 10-pound, 12-pound, 15-pound, and 3-to-5-pound options.

The product can be identified by code 0004255 and a series of "Vat" identifiers. These include 59-01915, 58-11212, 59-01914, 58-11210, 58-11213, 59-01930, and 59-01570. The federal record also lists 58-11210 again and includes an incomplete identifier, “59-0.”

Scombrotoxin develops when certain fish, such as tuna, are not stored at proper refrigerated temperatures, leading to an increase in histamine levels. The recall is ongoing, with no termination date posted by the FDA, and no press release or subsequent updates have been issued for this product.