Golden International Corporation of Renton, Washington is issuing a public safety notice about 405 cartons of stolen frozen tilapia. The product may be contaminated with Salmonella bacteria. No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this problem.
A container of the frozen fish that was ready for re-export to Taiwan was stolen from the Golden International Corporations container yard in Renton, and was recovered in Everett, Washington. The fish may have been sold in the surrounding area by the thieves. The container was stolen around 4:40 pm on Saturday, April 29, 2018, and wasn’t recovered until May 9, 2018. Officials are concerned that the fish were not refrigerated properly, which may have allowed pathogenic bacteria to grow.
The containing was sampled multiple times by Michelson Laboratories to determine if it was safe or not, and the testing detected the presence of Salmonella bacteria. That meant that the entire shipment could be compromised and it was going to be shipped back to Taiwan. But it was stolen first.
The master case label of the stolen tilapia reads “Frozen Tilapia Fish IQF” “Farm Raised” “Manufacturer NO. 7F3001” “Packed for Golden International” “Product of Taiwan” “Net Weight 40 pounds.” Of the 405 stolen cartons, 336 cartons contain frozen whole & round tilapia and each fish weighs over 1500 grams (3.3 pounds). The remaining 69 cartons contain frozen whole & round tilapia and each fish weighs over 800 grams (1.76 pounds).
Any consumers who may have bought this fish in Everett, Washington and in surrounding areas since April 28, 2018 are urged to destroy it. If the product was used to make other foods, consider recalling it and contact the FDA Retail Coordinator.
