This outbreak appears to be over. The last reported illness for this outbreak was on November 24, 2019. Yellowfin tuna from Truong Phu Xanh Co., LTD with a production date in 2019 should still not be consumed. At this time, Truong Phu Xanh Co., LTD has not shipped product in 2020 and remains on Import Alert, which provides information to FDA field staff that they may detain the firm’s yellowfin tuna without physical examination. Detained product will not enter the United States unless the importer proves that it meets U.S. food safety standards.

When the firm initially declined to recall, the FDA issued public warnings for importers, suppliers, distributors, and consumers. After the FDA public warning, the company recalled some of the product. FDA evaluated the effectiveness of the recalls and determined that the recalls may have not effectively removed all potentially harmful products from the market, so on December 26, 2019, the FDA released a list of importers of Truong Phu Xanh Co., LTD tuna to help suppliers and distributors to identify product. FDA further worked with companies throughout the supply chain to facilitate recalls; and was able to ensure that all importers with tuna still available initiated recalls.

In addition, the FDA notified the Vietnamese government after learning that some tuna products had been returned to Truong Phu Xanh Co., LTD in Vietnam. In response, the Vietnamese government issued an official letter to all relevant Vietnamese agencies instructing them to monitor and detain shipments of Truong Phu Xanh Co., LTD tuna upon arrival at ports in Vietnam. This action was taken to prevent the use of this product in Vietnam and its re-export to other countries, including the U.S.