The New York Department of Agriculture is warning consumers to not eat “Dry Bream-Lesh (Fish)” sold by Tatuka Inc. of Brooklyn, New York because it was not eviscerated. Fish that do not have their guts removed may be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum bacteria, which can be deadly. No illnesses have been reported to date.
The fish was sold from retail stores to consumers in the New York City metro area. It is packaged in a clear, vacuum-packed, flexible plastic pouch and is sold in the refrigerated foods department. The product has a “Best before” date of 01:08:2015. It is a product of Russia.
Clostridium botulinum spores are more likely to be concentrated in the guts, or viscera, of fish than any other place. Symptoms of botulism poisoning include blurred or double vision, poor reflexes, general weaknesses, difficulty swallowing, and respiratory paralysis. If you purchased this product, do not eat it. Discard in a sealed container or return to the store where you bought it for a refund.
