Kohathite: The Tuna Recall That Shook Costco | What It Reveals About God’s Ancient Food Laws (And Why They Still Matter Today)

The Tuna Recall That Shook Costco | What It Reveals About God’s Ancient Food Laws (And Why They Still Matter Today)

Shalom, dear friends—

I read with a heavy heart a recent report: Kirkland brand tuna poke sold at Costco was recalled. Though the immediate issue is food safety, this news has stirred in me a broader, deeper reflection: what we consume—what we allow into our bodies—matters spiritually. And for us, Messianic Jews, the dietary laws God gave through Moses are not just ancient relics, but living instructions that speak to identity, holiness, and gratitude.

I want to walk with you through how this recalls the biblical teaching about clean and unclean foods, especially fish, and to help us reflect on what it means in practical, everyday life—to eat with awareness, faith, and purpose. May we be encouraged together, not condemned, as we explore these truths.

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A Story of Discomfort: More Than Just a Recall

Picture this: You open the refrigerator late one evening. You were excited for tuna poke—bright, fresh, tangy. You think, “This will be good, a treat after a long day.” But then a notice reaches you: a recall. Something unsafe. Maybe a contaminant. Suddenly that meal—once a comfort—becomes a source of anxiety.

In that moment, you feel vulnerability. You feel exposed. And you might wonder: What do I feed my family? What do I allow into my body? Who is protecting me—God, yes, but also the systems, the companies?

That anxiety is real. But so is the hope God offers: that He cares about what we allow into our bodies, that He cares about faithfulness in the small things—even fish on the plate. For in His Word He has given guidance about what is clean, what is unclean—and why.

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What the Torah Says About Clean and Unclean Fish

In Leviticus 11:9–12, God gives explicit instructions concerning creatures in the water:

> “These you may eat of all that are in the water: whatever in the water has fins and scales, whether in the seas or in the rivers, you may eat. But anything in the water that does not have fins and scales, you shall not eat; it is an abomination to you.

This tells us: fins and scales — both. If a creature in the water lacks either one, God calls it unclean (or “not for eating,” “detestable,” “abomination,” depending on the translation).

Another parallel passage is Deuteronomy 14:9–10:

> “Of all that are in the waters you may eat whatever has fins and scales; and whatever does not have fins and scales you may not eat, for it is unclean to you.”

These laws are part of God’s moral instruction to Israel—a sign, a boundary, a means of holiness.

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Does Tuna Qualify?

Now, tuna is often cited among fish with fins and scales. Many sources say that albacore tuna, yellowfin tuna, and others do have both fins and scales. This is why a number of Messianic Jewish and Torah-observant groups include tuna among the “clean fish.”

So from the plain reading of the Torah, many would say tuna can be clean—if it indeed meets those physical criteria. But our concern here—especially given a recall—invites us to think also about how the fish was caught, processed, stored—whether contamination or mixing with non-kosher sources has occurred. God’s law about clean/unclean sets the baseline, but lived faith requires diligence.

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Jesus, the Gospels, and Dietary Laws: What Did He Teach?

It’s important to see how Yeshua (Jesus) treated these laws—not as irrelevant, but as full of meaning.

Matthew 5:17–19

> “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one smallest letter or one stroke shall pass from the Law until all is done. Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps them and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”

Application: Jesus affirms that the Law—including dietary commandments—has ongoing value. This isn’t legalism for its own sake, but faithfulness. In practice, this means that when we eat, we do so with awareness: do we meet the standards God gave—not just what is convenient, popular, or assumed?

Mark 7:14–23

In this passage, Jesus deals with questions from the Pharisees about what defiles a person. He says that what comes out of a person (evil thoughts, etc.) defiles, more than what goes in. Some people interpret this to mean food laws are abolished. But others point out that the Greek manuscripts are not unanimous on the phrase “thus He declared all foods clean,” and that Jesus never explicitly says God changed the Torah’s laws on clean/unclean.

Application: This calls us to balance inner purity and external obedience. Our heart matters deeply—and the food laws care about the outward, meaningful expression of faith. When we’re eating, we can do so in ways that honor both our inner walk and outer discipline.

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Old Testament Reflections: Holiness, Remembrance, and Identity

Let’s gather more from the Old Testament to see how these laws function in the life of a people called to be set apart.

Leviticus 11:43–45

> “You shall not make yourselves abominable with any creeping thing that creeps on the earth. For I am the LORD who brings you up out of the land of Egypt to be your God; you shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.”

Everyday Life: Eating clean foods is one way we live out holiness—distinct from the surrounding culture that may eat without regard, that ignores what God says is abominable or harmful.

Isaiah 66:17

> “Those who sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens behind one tree in the midst, eating the flesh of pigs, and the abomination, and mice, shall be consumed together,” says the LORD.

Reflection: God’s standard of purity is not arbitrary. Eating what is “abomination” has moral/spiritual consequences. It’s not about shame, but about alignment to Yahweh’s ways.

Proverbs 3:5–6

> “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”

Application: There are things in our culture, things in our diets, things in news reports like the Costco recall, that may confuse us. We might not always have clear labels or standards. In those moments, we lean on God’s Word—His criteria (like fins and scales). We seek discernment, not disappointment; faith, not fear.

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Encouragement: You Are Seen, Supported, Beloved

Beloved, I know it’s not always easy. There are plateaus of uncertainty: “Is this tuna clean?” “Was it processed in a facility that also handles non-kosher items or contaminants?” “Am I overreacting—or underreacting?” “Will others think me legalistic?”

Let me say: you are seen by God. He sees your desire to honor Him in the small things. He knows when your heart aches over integrity. You are not alone in this journey.

As we seek to live out Torah with Messiah Yeshua at the center, every choice—even about fish—can be an act of worship. When you pause before eating, examine the source, choose with care, pray for protection over your body—that is sacred living.

You are supported by a community that shares the struggle and the hope. We help each other, encourage each other, do what we can to learn, to ask good questions, to grow in discernment.

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Practical Steps: Living Out Respect for God’s Dietary Wisdom

To bring this teaching into daily life, here are some practical steps to consider:

1. Know your sources. When buying fish or fish products, take time to see how it’s described. Are there fins/scales clearly indicated? Is there possible mixing or cross-contamination?

2. Label diligence. Look for kosher certifications if that is part of how you practice. In cases of recalls, check the batch numbers; avoid taking risks.

3. Pray before you buy or eat. Ask God for discernment. Ask Him to guide your eyes and your choices.

4. Community conversation. Talk with others—Messianic congregations, Torah teachers—about good brands, trustworthy suppliers, safe practices.

5. Flexibility in grace. Understand that not everyone has access to perfectly “clean” food all the time. In those cases, do what you can, repent where you need to, and trust God’s grace.

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Conclusion: Choosing Holiness, Together

God invited Israel into holiness—to be set apart. For us, followers of Yeshua who walk in both Jewish identity and faith in Him, that calling remains. What we eat, how we buy, what we trust—it all matter.

Even as we mourn that a recall shakes our trust in food systems, let us also seize the opportunity to renew our commitment to His ways. Let the vigilance our bodies deserve be part of our spiritual discipline. May every meal become a testimony, not merely to physical wellbeing, but to faithfulness.

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Gentle Invitation

If this has stirred something in your heart:

Would you join me in prayer—that God would give us wisdom in every decision about food, the courage to live out His laws, and trust when what we see is imperfect?

Would you share this reflection with someone who might also be concerned about what they eat, who might feel alone in trying to live with integrity in this messy world?

Would you encourage others who wrestle with these questions, reassuring them they are not odd, not alone, but beloved by God?

And if you feel led, would you support work that helps teach Torah-faithful communities—through donations, volunteering, or inviting others—so together we can grow in understanding, in holiness, in love?

I believe that as we do this, even small steps—like choosing clean fish, like pausing before we eat—become part of a beautiful, shared mission: to honor God with our bodies, our homes, our community.

May the Lord bless you, keep you, make His face shine upon you, and give you peace in your choices, strength in your convictions, and love in your heart.

Besiman tovah (for good measure),

Kohathite

Reference:

https://www.newsweek.com/recall-kirkland-brand-tuna-poke-sold-costco-2133142

Citations from the article

1. Olivetree Messianic study guide (Shemini):

https://www.olivetreemessianic.org/uploads/1/6/7/5/16753254/26_shemini_04-02-16.pdf

2. TorahClass — The Real Meaning of Kosher:

https://www.torahclass.com/lessons/topical-teachings/the-real-meaning-of-kosher

3. We Are Israel — Clean Fish with Fins and Scales:

https://weareisrael.org/2012/12/31/clean-fish-fins-and-scales

4. Messianic Learning — Clean vs. Unclean Animals: