A Sam’s Club recall of smoked salmon issued at the end of December is one of four smoked salmon recalls issued in the last three months for possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. Two possible illnesses have been reported in association with one of these recalls. Here’s what consumers need to know.
Listeria bacteria can and do turn up in all kinds of foods including raw meats, raw fruits and vegetables and raw dairy products. It also appears in foods that are cooked but become contaminated after cooking such as deli meats, hot dogs, soft cheeses and smoked seafood. Unlike other foodborne bacteria, Listeria can survive, even thrive, in cold temperatures. Also unlike other foodborne bacetria, Listeria is slow to incubate. It can take up to two months for the flu-like symptoms of a Listeria infection, called listeriosis, to develop. Symptoms include stiff neck, fever, muscle aches, upset stomach, diarrhea and headache. Pregnant women are among those most at risk as listeriosis can cause miscarriage and stillbirth.
Consumers who have purchased smoked salmon recently should make sure the product they have purchased is not under recall. Consumers who find the products they have purchased are under recall should not eat them. Two possible illnesses have been reported in association with one of these recalls. Listeriosis can cause serious and fatal illness.
Here are the recent smoked salmon Listeria recalls:
On December 31, Delfish SA issued a recall for smoked salmon products sold in a variety of sizes under several brand names. All of the recalled products were produced between September 5 2012 and October 17, 2012 and had lot numbers ranging from 249 to 291. The products include: 1 lb. packages of Black Bear of the Black Forest Smoked Salmon with the UPC # 810230000493; 1 lb. packages of Food Service Cold Smoked Salmon Trim; 4 oz packages of Einstein Darn Good smoked salmon with UPC # 099892315200; 3-5 lb food service packs of Food Service Whole Smoked Side; 2-3 lb. smoked fillets from Silver Source Smoked Salmon Foodservice, 6 oz packages of Royal Fjord Smoked Toppers with the UPC # 810230000561; 12-14 oz. packages of Royal Fjord Sliced Smoked Salmon Loin with item number 42925; and HEB 4 oz. packages of smoked salmon with UPC # 041220630417. These products were distributed to retail stores in California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas Virginia and Puerto Rico. No illnesses have been reported.
On December 27, Multiexport Foods issued a recall of smoked salmon products sold under the brand name Paramount Reserve at Sam’s Club stores in 42 states and Puerto Rico. The products under recall are 12 ounce “twin packs” of cold smoked salmon with UPC # 6 88264 86705 0 and 1.25 pound packs of smoked salmon with UPC # 6 88264 86664 0. The states where the product was distributed are: Alabama, Arkansas, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Montana, Missouri, Mississippi, Nebraska, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, New Mexico, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Washington, Virginia, Wisconsin, and West Virginia. No illnesses have been reported.
On December 14, Ocean Beauty Seafoods LLC recalled 371 cases of ready-to-eat cold smoked salmon product with the pack code 285. The recalled products were sent to retailers and distribution centers in Arizona, California, Colorado, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Texas, and Washington from November 20, 2012 to December 12, 2012. They include 3 oz packages of Nathan’s Brand Cold Smoked Atlantic Salmon (Product of Chile) with UPC 0 73030 80368 2 and 4 oz packages of LASCCO Cold Smoked Nova Atlantic Salmon (Product of Chile) with UPC 0 72840 01751 7 which were sold at King Soopers, City Market, Ralph’s and other grocery stores. No illnesses have been reported.
On November 9, Spence & Co Ltd recalled 1,563 packs of New York Style Nova Lox with lot # 9720704. Two possible illnesses have been reported in association with this product. The recalled product was sent to distributors in Illinois, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Jersey and the Detroit area between September 26 and October 5. The following retailers also received shipments of the product: Earthfare stores in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, and Tennessee from September 28 through October 5. Shaws Supermarkets: in New England on September 28 with an expiration date of October 21; Roche Bros in Massachusetts on September 26 with an expiration date October 19, 2012; and Fresh Markets in Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.
