Saving Seafood

Canned tuna sold by major U.S. grocers recalled due to botulism concerns

February 11, 2025 — Certain canned tuna products sold by grocers including Costco, Trader Joe’s and Walmart are being recalled due to botulism concerns, according to a notice posted Monday by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The recall involves some canned tuna sold in dozens of states and Washington, D.C., under the Genova, Van Camp’s, H-E-B and Trader Joe’s brand names, stated Tri-Union Seafoods, a subsidiary of Thai Union, a global seafood provider based in Thailand.

“The ‘easy open’ pull can lid on limited products encountered a manufacturing defect that may compromise the integrity of the seal (especially over time), causing it to leak, or worse, be contaminated with clostridium botulinum, a potentially fatal form of food poisoning,” Tri-Union Seafoods stated in the recall posted Monday by the FDA. A supplier alerted the company to the manufacturing defect, El Segundo, California-based Tri-Union said.

People should not consume the recalled tuna even if it does not look or smell spoiled, and those feeling unwell should seek immediate medical attention, the company and FDA warned. No illnesses related to the recalled fish have been reported, they added.

Read the full article at CBS News

Walton Family Foundation: 80 percent of Americans care about sustainable seafood, food security, oceans

October 30, 2024 — A new poll has found that most Americans care about sustainably produced seafood, food security, and protection of the world’s oceans.

The poll, released by the Walton Family Foundation (WFF) – a Bentonville, Arkansas, U.S.A.-based philanthropic organization established by Walmart founders Sam and Helen Walton – in honor of National Seafood Month, found that more than four out of five Americans agree that it is important to promote the production of sustainable seafood.

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

US online grocery sales expected to hit USD 120 billion by 2028, with Walmart emerging as dominant player

April 30, 2024 — Americans are continuing to buy more of their groceries online, with a recent study expecting that trend to grow exponentially over the next five years.

E-commerce grocery sales in the U.S. are projected to increase at a compounded annual growth rate of 4.5 percent – more than three times faster than the 1.3 percent rate expected for in-store sales over the next five years, according to “U.S. eGrocery Sales Forecast: 2024-28,” a new report compiled by retail data site Brick Meets Click.

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

Walmart to pay USD 45 million in class-action settlement

April 9, 2024 — Retail giant Walmart will soon have to pay USD 45 million (EUR 41 million) to consumers as part of a settlement of a class-action lawsuit regarding the sale of improperly weighted groceries, including seafood.

The lawsuit, filed in October 2022, alleged Walmart overcharged shoppers for certain groceries that were sold by weight – including meat, poultry, pork, seafood, and certain fruits sold in bulk.

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

Walmart, Sam’s Club strengthen tuna-sourcing requirements

June 20, 2023 — Walmart is updating is seafood sourcing policy to require tuna suppliers to source exclusively from vessels that have 100 percent observer monitoring – either electronic or human observer – by 2027.

The Bentonville, Arkansas, U.S.A.-based operator of more than 10,500 stores globally, including nearly 4,700 Walmart stores and nearly 600 Sam’s Club stores in the U.S., said tuna suppliers must also source from fisheries using zero high seas transshipment, unless the transshipment activity is covered by 100 percent observer monitoring by 2027. The changes apply to Walmart U.S., Walmart Canada, and Sam’s Club stores.

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

Walmart chooses Pacific Island Tuna for its in-house brand

October 6, 2021 — A partnership between the Republic of the Marshall Islands and The Nature Conservancy will supply canned tuna to Walmart stores for the store’s Great Value brand across the United States.

The new joint venture, dubbed Pacific Island Tuna (PIT), is “designed to transform the global canned tuna supply chain,” according to a Nature Conservancy announcement. The new business model is intended to give Pacific islanders the ability to benefit from their tuna resources by directing 100 percent of long-term net profits back to them while utilizing a sustainable model of fishing and production.

Read the full story at SeafoodSource

 

Walmart, Target report strong grocery sales in Q2; SNAP benefits increased

August 19, 2021 — Walmart and Target have reported higher grocery sales in Q2 2021, with Walmart’s sales hitting USD 2.4 billion (EUR 2.1 billion) – up 6 percent compared to Q2 2020 – and Target’s up by “low double-digits,” according to Target Executive Vice President and Chief Growth Officer Christina Hennington

Overall same-store sales at Target grew 8.9 percent in the quarter, on top of record growth of 24.3 percent last year, and its digital comparable sales grew 10 percent after realizing growth of 195 percent last year, Hennington said on the retailer’s Q2 earnings call, according to Progressive Grocer.

Read the full story at Seafood Source

US grocery outlook bright, with Amazon set to overtake Walmart as largest retailer

May 3, 2021 — The outlook for United States retailers and grocers is strong, according to National Retail Federation (NRF) Chief Economist Jack Kleinhenz.

As Americans get vaccinated against COVID-19, they are developing a more positive economic outlook, and they’re visits into physical stores are rising, according to Kleinhenz. As a result, the U.S. economy is on firm footing and could see its fastest growth in more than three decades.

Read the full story at Seafood Source