USFDA recalls hepatitis A-contaminated frozen tuna from GenSan firm

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a recall for tuna sourced from the Philippines, Vietnam, and Indonesia after the fish tested positive for hepatitis A.

According to the USFDA, fish importer Hilo Fish Company began on May 18 recalling frozen tuna products sourced from Santa Cruz Seafood Inc. in the Philippines and Sustainable Seafood Company in Vietnam due to the products' testing positive for the virus.

The recall was preceded by a similar incident on May 1 when the Hawaii Department of Health notified the USFDA of another contaminated batch of frozen tuna sourced from Indonesia by PT Deho Canning Co.

Specific products recalled include imported raw frozen ahi tuna cubes from PT Deho Canning Co.; frozen yellowfin tuna steaks from Sustainable Seafood Company; and yellowfin tuna cubes from Santa Cruz Seafood.

No illnesses have been reported to the USFDA yet but the agency provided a list of restaurants and other retail locations in Oklahoma, Texas, and California that received the recalled frozen tuna.

The public was advised to contact their health care providers if they believe they have been exposed to the contaminated tuna.

While the agency is working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), state and local officials to assess the risk of hepatitis A exposure, Hilo Fish Company has the responsibility of notifying its customers of the recall. — BM, GMA News