Harry’s Farmers Market in Marietta, GA is recalling wild gulf amberjack after five people who bought and ate the fish became ill. The product was sold through March 15, 2014 in the fresh seafood case only at the Harry’s Farmers Market location on 70 Powers Ferry Road SE in Marietta, GA .
The recall includes wild whole amberjack, amberjack filets and amberjack portions. No other products or stores are affected by the recall.
Officials from the Georgia Department of Agriculture have not yet determined the cause of the illness. Customers who became sick from the fish said their symptoms included itching, diarrhea and vomiting. Anyone with these symptoms should see a doctor.
One possible source of the illness is ciguatera fish poisoning. Large fish can sometimes accumulate ciguatoxins, toxins that naturally occur in tropical waters. The symptoms of ciguatera fish poisoning include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and neurologic symptoms such as numbness and tingling in the extremities, headache, dizziness and faintness.
According to Clemson University’s Coopertive Extension Service, amberjacks are among the groups of fish most likely to have a ciguatoxin problems. Others to look out for include, moray eels, barracuda, other jacks, hogfish, scorpion fishes, and certain tiggerfish, snapper and groupers.
