Canned seafood processed by Skipanon Brand Seafood in the Pacific Northwest is being recalled for possible Clostridium botulinum contamination. The original recall, on October 9, 2015, has been followed by seventeen secondary recalls, for a total of seighteen recalls so far. We are gathering all of the recalls in one place for easy reference. We will update this story if more recalls are announced.
When products are improperly canned, they create the ideal environment for the growth of botulism toxin. Clostridium botulinum bacteria are everywhere, and are especially present in soil and in fish viscera. The bacteria produces spores, which grow and make a toxin under anaerobic (low oxygen) environments. Canned foods, with rich nutrients and very little oxygen, are the ideal environment for botulism growth. That is why it is so critical to process canned foods properly.
The first recall, on October 9, 2015, was for all lots and all sizes of Skipanon Brand Seafoods canned products. That long list of recalled products included tuna, salmon, steelhead, and sturgeon. All of the recalled products have codes beginning with the letters “OC”.
Then the secondary recalls started. Skipanon Brand Seafoods produced all of these products in their facility. The second recall was for Ecola Seafoods canned salmon and tuna, issued on October 15, 2015. The third recall, also issued on October 15, 2015, was for Garibaldi Cannery brand canned tuna and salmon. Pacific Oyster Company issued the fourth recall, for canned tuna, salmon, and smoked salmon, on October 16, 2015.
The fifth recall was for Bornstein Seafood, which recalled all of its canned seafood products on October 17, 2015. The brands recalled included Krooke’s, Logger’s Choice, and Bornstein Seafoods. Brigham Fish Market recalled canned chinook salmon on October 19, 2015 for the sixth recall. The seventh recall was for Northwest Wild Products’ salmon, sardines, sturgeon, tuna, razor clams, and black cod, issued on October 20, 2015. Dungeness Seaworks recalled its canned tuna products on October 20, 2015 for the eighth recall.
The Spot recalled its canned seafood on October 21, 2015, and Vis Seafoods recalled their products on that date as well for the tenth recall. Josephson’s Smokehouse of Oreon is recalling canned salmon, sturgeon and tuna for the eleventh recall. The twelfth recall is for Gilmore Fish canned sturgeon and salmon, on October 27, 2015.
The thirteenth recall is for OleBob’s Seafoods canned tuna and salmon on October 27, 2015. The fourteenth recall is for Sockeye Suzy’s canned seafood, issued on October 28, 2015. The fifteenth recall is for CS Fishery Wild Albacore Tuna. The sixteenth recall is for Farmer Creek, issued on October 30, 2015. And the seventeenth recall is for Old Oregon Smokehouse canned tuna, issued on November 10, 2015. You can see pictures of product labels of the recalled products at all of the above links.
If you purchased any of these products, do not eat them. Throw them away in a sealed container or in a double bag, or return them to the place of purchase for a refund. Foods contaminated with this toxin will not smell, taste, or look different from uncontaminated foods.
The symptoms of botulism food poisoning include general weakness, dizziness, double vision, trouble speaking, and trouble swallowing. These symptoms progress to difficulty in breathing and can cause death if the patient is not treated with an antidote. If you ate any of these products and have experienced these symptoms, or have experienced these symptoms any other time, go to an emergency room immediately. A tiny amount of the botulism toxin can cause death. Immediate medical treatment is necessary.
