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California-based seafood manufacturer Tri-Union Seafoods has issued a voluntary recall of select canned tuna products due to a potential contamination risk from Clostridium botulinum, a bacteria that can cause serious and potentially fatal food poisoning. The recall follows a supplier notification that a manufacturing defect in the easy open pull-tab lids may compromise the product’s seal, leading to leaks or contamination over time. While no illnesses have been reported, Tri-Union say it’s taking precautionary measures to ensure consumer safety. Which products were impacted? The recalled tuna products were distributed across multiple retailers nationwide under the Genova, Van Camps, HEB, and Trader Joes brands. The affected brands and locations include: H-E-B label Texas Trader Joe’s label Delaware Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Maryland Michigan Minnesota Missouri Nebraska New Jersey New York North Carolina Ohio Pennsylvania Virginia Washington, D.C. Wisconsin Genova 7 oz Costco in Florida and Georgia Genova 5 oz Harris Teeter Publix H-E-B Kroger Safeway Walmart Genova 5 oz (independent retailers) Alabama Arkansas Arizona California Florida Georgia North Carolina New Jersey Tennessee Texas Van Camp’s label Walmart and independent retailers in Pennsylvania, Florida, and New Jersey Tri-Union Seafoods has confirmed that no other products are affected by this recall. What Is Botulism? Botulism is a rare but serious illness caused by a toxin produced by Clostridium botulinum. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the toxin affects the nervous system, potentially leading to paralysis and breathing difficulties, and can be fatal if untreated. What are the symptoms of Botulism? Difficulty swallowing Muscle weakness Double or blurry vision Drooping eyelids Slurred speech Difficulty breathing Difficulty moving the eyes Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or stomach pain (foodborne cases) In infants: Weak crying, poor feeding, drooping eyelids Anyone experiencing these symptoms should seek immediate medical attention. What if I have a recalled tuna product? Consumers are urged not to eat the recalled tuna, even if it looks or smells normal, and to return the recalled cans to the store for a full refund. Contact Tri-Union Seafoods for a retrieval kit and a replacement coupon. You can also read the recall notice on the website of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
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E-Commerce
U.S. Vice President JD Vance on Tuesday warned global leaders and tech industry executives that “excessive regulation” could cripple the rapidly growing artificial intelligence industry in a rebuke to European efforts to curb AI’s risks.The speech underscored a widening, three-way rift over AI.The United States, under President Donald Trump, champions a hands-off approach to fuel innovation, while Europe is tightening the reins with strict regulations to ensure safety and accountability. Meanwhile, China is rapidly expanding AI through state-backed tech giants, vying for dominance in the global race.The U.S. was noticeably absent from a joint statement signed by more than 60 nations, pledging to “promote AI accessibility to reduce digital divides” and “ensure AI is open, inclusive, transparent, ethical, safe, secure and trustworthy.”The agreement also called for “making AI sustainable for people and the planet” and protecting “human rights, gender equality, linguistic diversity, protection of consumers and of intellectual property rights.”In a surprise, China long criticized for its human rights record signed the declaration, leaving the U.S. as the outlier. Vance’s debut At the summit, Vance made his first major policy speech since becoming vice president last month, framing AI as an economic turning point but cautioning that “at this moment, we face the extraordinary prospect of a new industrial revolution, one on par with the invention of the steam engine.”“But it will never come to pass if overregulation deters innovators from taking the risks necessary to advance the ball,” Vance added.The 40-year-old vice president, leveraging the AI summit and a security conference in Munich later this week, is seeking to project Trump’s forceful new style of diplomacy.The Trump administration will “ensure that AI systems developed in America are free from ideological bias,” Vance said and pledged the U.S. would “never restrict our citizens’ right to free speech.” A growing divide Vance also took aim at foreign governments for “tightening the screws” on U.S. tech firms, saying such moves were troubling. His remarks underscored the growing divide between Washington and its European allies on AI governance.European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stressed that, “AI needs the confidence of the people and has to be safe” and detailed EU guidelines intended to standardize the bloc’s AI Act but acknowledged concerns over regulatory burden.“At the same time, I know that we have to make it easier and we have to cut red tape and we will,” she added.She also announced that the “InvestAI” initiative had reached a total of 200 billion in AI investments across Europe, including 20 billion dedicated to AI gigafactories. A race for AI dominance The summit laid bare competing global AI strategies Europe pushing to regulate and invest, China expanding AI through state-backed giants, and the U.S. doubling down on an unregulated, free-market approach.French President Emmanuel Macron positioned Europe as a “third way” in the AI race, one that avoids dependence on major powers like the U.S. and China.“We want a fair and open access to these innovations for the whole planet,” he said in his closing speech, arguing that the AI sector “needs rules” on a global scale to build public trust and urging greater “international governance.”Macron also hailed newly announced investments in France and across Europe, underscoring the continent’s ambitions in AI. “We’re in the race,” he said.Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing, special envoy of Xi Jinping, reinforced Beijing’s intent to shape global AI standards.Vance, a vocal critic of European content moderation policies, has suggested the U.S. should reconsider its NATO commitments if European governments impose restrictions on Elon Musk’s social media platform, X. His Paris visit was also expected to include candid discussions on Ukraine, AI’s role in global power shifts, and U.S.-China tensions. How to regulate AI? Concerns over AI’s potential dangers have loomed over the summit, particularly as nations grapple with how to regulate a technology that is increasingly entwined with defense and warfare.“I think one day we will have to find ways to control AI or else we will lose control of everything,” said Admiral Pierre Vandier, NATO’s commander who oversees the alliance’s modernization efforts.Beyond diplomatic tensions, a global public-private partnership is being launched called “Current AI,” aimed at supporting large-scale AI initiatives for the public good.Analysts see this as an opportunity to counterbalance the dominance of private companies in AI development. However, it remains unclear whether the U.S. will support such efforts.Separately, a high-stakes battle over AI power is escalating in the private sector.A group of investors led by Musk who now heads Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency has made a $97.4 billion bid to acquire the nonprofit behind OpenAI. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, attending the Paris summit, swiftly rejected the offer on X. The US-China rivalry In Beijing, officials on Monday condemned Western efforts to restrict access to AI tools, while Chinese company DeepSeek’s new AI chatbot has prompted calls in the U.S. Congress to limit its use over security concerns. China promotes open-source AI, arguing that accessibility will ensure global AI benefits.French organizers hope the summit will boost investment in Europe’s AI sector, positioning the region as a credible contender in an industry shaped by U.S.-China competition.French President Emmanuel Macron, addressing the energy demands of AI, contrasted France’s nuclear-powered approach with the U.S.’s reliance on fossil fuels, quipping: France won’t “drill, baby, drill,” but “plug, baby, plug.”Vance’s diplomatic tour will continue in Germany, where he will attend the Munich Security Conference and press European allies to increase commitments to NATO and Ukraine. He may also meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Talking Ukraine and Middle East with Macron Vance will discuss Ukraine and the Middle East over a working lunch with Macron.Like Trump, he has questioned U.S. aid to Kyiv and the broader Western strategy toward Russia. Trump has pledged to end the war in Ukraine within six months of taking office.Vance is also set to meet separately with Idian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Associated Press writers Sylvie Corbet and Kelvin Chan in Paris contributed to this report. Aamer Madhani and Thomas Adamson, Associated Press
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E-Commerce
U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum “will not go unanswered,” European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen vowed on Tuesday, adding that they will trigger tough countermeasures from the 27-nation bloc. It means iconic U.S. industries like bourbon, jeans and motorcycles should beware.“The EU will act to safeguard its economic interests,” von der Leyen said in a statement in reaction to U.S. President Donald Trump’s imposition of tariffs on steel and aluminum the previous day.“Tariffs are taxes bad for business, worse for consumers,” von der Leyen said. “Unjustified tariffs on the EU will not go unanswered they will trigger firm and proportionate countermeasures.”Just as Trump imposed similar tariffs during his first presidency, the EU countermeasures could easily amount to those that were used to retaliate then if the measures come into force March 12.Bernd Lange, the chair of the European Parliament’s trade committee, warned that previous trade measures were only suspended and could legally be easily revived.“When he starts again now, then we will, of course, immediately reinstate our countermeasures,” Lange told rbb24 German radio.“Motorcycles, jeans, peanut butter, bourbon, whiskey and a whole range of products that of course also affect American exporters” would be targeted, he added.The EU Commission, which negotiates trade relations on behalf of the bloc, said it is not clear what countermeasures would apply, but officials and observers have said they would target Republican states and traditionally strong U.S. exports.In Germany, which is the EU’s largest economy, Chancellor Olaf Scholz told parliament that “if the U.S. leaves us no other choice, then the European Union will react united,” adding: “Ultimately, trade wars always cost both sides prosperity.”Trump is hitting foreign steel and aluminum with a 25% tax in the hope that they will give local producers relief from intense global competition, allowing them to charge higher prices.EU Commission vice-president Maro¹ ©efèoviè said Tuesday that the tariffs are “economically counterproductive, especially given the deeply integrated production chains established through our extensive transatlantic trade and investment ties.”“We will protect our workers, businesses and consumers,” ©efèoviè said, but added that “it is not our preferred scenario. We remain committed to constructive dialog. We stand ready for negotiations and to find mutually beneficial solutions where possible.”The EU estimates that the trade volume between both sides stands at about $1.5 trillion, representing some 30% of global trade. “There is a lot at stake for both sides,” he told the EU legislature.While the bloc has a substantial export surplus in goods, it says that is partly offset by the U.S. surplus in the trade of services.The EU says that trade in goods reached 851 billion euros ($878 billion) in 2023, with a trade surplus of 156 billion euros ($161 billion) for the EU. Trade in services was worth 688 billion euros ($710 billion) with a trade deficit of 104 billion euros ($107 billion) for the EU. Geir Moulson contributed from Berlin, Lorne Cook from Brussels Raf Casert, Associated Press
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E-Commerce
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