Tuna sold at Costco, Walmart, Trader Joe's, Kroger, and other national grocery chains is being recalled due to possible food poisoning and other dangers, federal officials announced this week.

Tri-Union Seafoods, based in El Segundo, California, issued a voluntary recall on Feb. 7 for lots of canned tuna products sold under the Genova, Van Camp’s, H-E-B, and Trader Joe’s brand name, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced.

The tuna was shipped to stores in 27 states, according to a notice published Monday Feb. 10 by the FDA.

Tri-Union Seafoods reported it was notified the “easy open” pull tab can lid on some of the products encountered a manufacturing defect causing it to leak, or be contaminated with clostridium botulinum which causes food poisoning and can lead to death.

Here's what to know about the recall including where the product has been sold, and what to do if you bought the impacted item.

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What stores were the tuna sold in and in which states?

The impacted products were distributed to the below grocery stores in the following states:

∎ 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.

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∎ 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

A full list of the products, their respective can codes, UPC labels and best if used by date can be found on the FDA's website.

What is Clostridium botulinum?

Clostridium botulinum is a rod-shaped, spore-forming, bacterium that can produce botulinum toxins under low-oxygen conditions, according to the USDA.

The bacterium grows on improperly sterilized canned meats and other preserved foods. According to the Centers for Disease Control, if consumed it can cause food poisoning (botulism) which causes difficulty breathing, muscle paralysis, and even death.

FDA: Throw out the tuna or return it for a refund

Anyone who consumed the tuna, the company wrote in its recall, should seek immediate medical attention.

As of Monday no illnesses had been reported to the FDA.

Those who purchased a recalled tuna can, should return it to the retailer for a full refund, throw it away, or contact Tri-Union Seafoods directly for a retrieval kit and a coupon for a replacement product. Consumers can contact Tri-Union Seafoods at [email protected] or 833-374-0171.

Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X @nataliealund.