Concerns around botulism, a potentially fatal form of food poisoning, are rising after cans of tuna sold at popular grocery stores nationwide were recently recalled for possibly being contaminated with a bacteria that causes the rare illness.

The recall, initiated Feb. 7 by Tri-Union Seafoods, was out an “abundance of caution,” a release said, after the supplier said the “easy open” pull tab on some canned products “encountered a manufacturing defect.” The defect could compromise the product seal, especially over time, the Federal Food and Drug Administration said, potentially causing leaks — or worse — contamination with clostridium botulinum.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, such bacteria can produce the toxin within foods, wounds and the intestines of infants, leading to difficulty breathing, muscle paralysis and even death.

What is Botulism, and how does it develop?

“The bacteria that make botulinum toxin are found naturally in many places, but it’s rare for them to make people sick,” the CDC said. “These bacteria make spores, which act like protective coatings. Spores help the bacteria survive in the environment, even in extreme conditions.”

The spores typically do not cause people to become sick, the CDC said. But under certain conditions, the spores can grow, creating “one of the most lethal toxins known.”

The spores can become toxic in a number of environments, including low or no oxygen, low acid, low sugar or low salt, within a certain temperature range with a certain amount of water. Improperly home-canned, preserved or fermented foods can provide the right conditions for sports to grow and create the toxin, the CDC added.

“Though uncommon, store-bought foods also can be contaminated with botulinum toxin,” the CDC said. “When people eat these foods, they can become seriously ill, or even die, if they don’t get proper medical treatment quickly.

There are five kinds of botulism, the CDC said: Foodborne, Wound, Infant, Iatrogenic and Adult intestinal, the CDC said, all of which are medical emergencies.

What tuna can products were recalled?

The impacted products were distributed to popular grocery stores and retailers across the country, including stores in Illinois. The full list of stores products were distributed to are below:

• H-E-B label – Texas
• Trader Joe’s – 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
• 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

The following products were recalled, according to the FDA:

No illnesses associated with the recalled products were reported, the announcement said, with the FDA warning consumers to not use the product even if it does not look or smell spoiled.