Moon Marine USA of Cupertino, California is voluntarily recalling 58,828 pounds of frozen raw yellowfin tuna product that is linked with the outbreak of Salmonella Bareilly that has sickened 116 people across the country. Fourteen people have been hospitalized in the outbreak.
The FDA’s Curtis Allen stated, “We have traced the illness back to certain lots of tuna scrape from Moon Marine. There could still be some out there, but we hope it won’t be out for long.”
The tuna is called “Nakaochi Scrape AA or AAA” and is made from tuna backmeat that is scraped from the bones of the fish. The FDA report states that the product isn’t for sale to individuals, but sold to restaurants and grocery stores. It is commonly used to make spicy tuna rolls and other recipes that are made with ground or chopped fish.
Dr. O. Peter Snyder, founder of the Hospitality Institute of Technology and Management in St. Paul, Minnesota, told Food Poisoning Bulletin that this type of product “would probably be very contaminated just like hamburger ground from outside meat is the most contaminated meat.”
The FDA states that the product may have passed through several distributors before appearing in restaurants and grocery stores. There may not be any lot codes or numbers on the product. Distributors and end users should contact their suppliers to make sure they do not have any of this specific product.
The product was originally packaged in white boxes with black writing, naming the importer as Moon Marine USA Corporation (MMI). The boxes were identified as Nakaochi Scrape AA or AAA and contained some vacuum-wrapped packages and had no more labeling.
The FDA reminds consumers that raw seafood, because it is not fully cooked, is not considered as “safe” as cooked seafood. The handling of raw seafood can also affect the product’s safety. If you purchase any dish that may contain Nakaochi Scrape, check first to make sure it doesn’t contain any of the recalled product. And if you are experiencing foodborne illness, consult your doctor.
