Nearly 333 pounds of tuna moved through five states before tests flagged a classic fish-borne toxin risk.
Story Snapshot
- The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) labeled the recall Class II, its second-highest tier.
- Buckhead Meat Company pulled 332.9 pounds of refrigerated tuna from five states.
- New Jersey health officials reported two samples with elevated scombrotoxin, prompting action.
- No illnesses were reported in coverage at the time of the classification.
FDA action, product details, and where it went
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) classified this recall as Class II on September 16, meaning use may cause temporary or medically reversible harm.
Buckhead Meat Company’s affected lot totaled 332.9 pounds and moved to customers in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and Maryland.
Reports identify the product as sold in refrigerated Styrofoam containers, in 10-pound, 12-pound, 15-pound, and 3-to-5-pound cases, tied to product number 0004255. The recall remained active as of the latest reporting.
Buckhead initiated the recall on July 24 after the New Jersey Department of Health notified the firm that two tuna samples tested positive for elevated scombrotoxin, a hazard linked to histamine buildup.
Several outlets repeated the same core details: the lot size, five-state footprint, and Class II status, with no illnesses cited then.
The time gap between the company’s start date and the FDA’s formal classification reflects the normal path from firm action to federal listing, not a halt in the recall.
Nearly 333 pounds of Buckhead tuna recalled across 5 states over elevated scombrotoxin levels https://t.co/m9DpiI9AtZ
— FOX Business (@FoxBusiness) September 27, 2026
What scombrotoxin poisoning is and why tuna is a frequent target
Scombrotoxin illness comes from high histamine levels that can form when certain fish, like tuna, are not kept cold enough after harvest. People can feel flushed, get hives, a headache, or nausea within minutes to hours. Most cases pass within a day.
Federal guidance sets a defect action level of 50 parts per million for histamine as a spoilage marker, and 500 parts per million as a health action level, framing how regulators judge risk.
These events recur in seafood because temperature control can slip at any step in the chain. A box left on a warm dock or a reefer unit set a few degrees high can be enough. That is why most histamine recalls in tuna end up as Class II.
A federal review found 54 tuna recalls for histamine from 2002 through 2021, with 53 classified as Class II and one as Class III, showing a stable regulatory pattern.
How to read the risk and what to do if you bought this tuna
Class II signals a real but limited hazard under expected use. That tier fits scombrotoxin because symptoms can be sharp but usually do not lead to lasting harm.
Consumers and restaurants who received the affected Buckhead tuna should stop using it, separate it from other foods, and contact the supplier for instructions. Do not taste-test fish to judge safety; heat and smell cannot reliably find this hazard. When in doubt, discard the product.
🚨 TUNA RECALL: Nearly 333 pounds of Buckhead tuna distributed in Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York and Connecticut are being recalled after testing found elevated levels of scombrotoxin, which can cause food poisoning.
The FDA has classified the recall as Class II.…
— MDBayNews (@MDBayNews) September 27, 2026
Most food operators already practice intake checks, lot tracking, and temperature logs. This recall is a reminder to keep those steps tight.
Check receiving temperatures, ice coverage, and time out of refrigeration. Record supplier lot numbers on menus or prep logs to speed trace-back.
Why these recalls keep happening and how supply chains fix them
The weak link is often the hours between the boat and the box truck. Strong Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point plans cover rapid chilling on deck, verified cold storage, and continuous temperature monitoring. Shippers should use tamper-evident data loggers.
Receivers should reject warm product on arrival. Firms that act fast, like initiating a recall the day they get a state notice, limit exposure and protect brand trust. That is the playbook on display here.
