USA – Truong Phu Xanh, a Vietnamese firm supplying yellowfin tuna fish is to initiate a voluntary recall of all its yellowfin tuna sold in the US after investigations linked scombrotoxin fish poisoning to the products supplied by the company.

The recall follows inquiries by the Unites States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and state health authorities into incidents of scombrotoxin fish poisoning, which have further prompted the federal agency to place Truong Phu Xanh on an import alert.

The recall applies for products processed from January 2019 to the present. The FDA says that detained yellowfin tuna, sometimes called ahi tuna, will not enter the United States unless the importer proves that it meets US food safety standards.

Scombrotoxin fish poisoning occurs when fish begin to spoil, resulting in increased histamine levels. Histamine is an organic nitrogenous compound associated with common allergic responses such as inflammations.

The investigation has identified 47 illnesses of scombrotoxin fish poisoning that occurred between August 8, 2019 and October 15, 2019.

As part of the investigation, FDA noted that it evaluated the firm’s food safety management system through its Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) Plans.

“Since FDA’s evaluation of this plan identified deficiencies, we asked for Truong Phu Xanh Co., LTD of Vietnam to initiate a voluntary recall of all of its imported yellowfin tuna with production dates from January 2019 to the present.

“Multiple samples have been collected and analyzed, with positive results for decomposition or high histamine levels in products imported from Truong Phu Xanh Co., LTD,” the federal agency said in a statement.

The FDA said that it was able to collect epidemiologic and traceback information for reported illnesses in collaboration with state partners and companies throughout the supply chain to voluntarily recall implicated product.

However, while recalls were conducted at various points in the supply chain, FDA said that there may be additional product still on the market that could cause illness.

“Ultimately, the coordinated investigation was able to identify Truong Phu Xanh Co., LTD as the common supplier of tuna that was likely consumed by most of the ill people,” the regulatory agency said.

Because scombrotoxin fish poisoning causes temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences, FDA noted that the incident did not meet the threshold for the use of its mandatory recall authority.