FDA issues urgent recall of smoked fish over fears of Listeria contamination
Nationwide recall targets smoked salmon and sea bass from a Jamaica, Queens-based company; no illnesses reported yet; refunds offered.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued an urgent nationwide recall of smoked salmon and smoked sea bass because of potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. The Haifa-based company in Jamaica, Queens, is recalling products that were distributed nationwide through direct delivery to retailers and distributors. No illnesses have been reported.
The recalled items are vacuum-packed smoked salmon and smoked sea bass, identified by lot numbers 219 and 212. The salmon and sea bass are packaged in a paperboard carton with a flexible plastic overwrap. Customers should not eat these products and should return them to the store where they were purchased for a refund. Anyone who has eaten the fish should monitor for symptoms in the coming weeks.
Listeria monocytogenes, the bacterium that causes listeriosis, can cause fever, headache and diarrhea, and in severe cases can lead to sepsis, meningitis and, in pregnant women, miscarriage or stillbirth. The incubation period can range from a few days to as long as 70 days. While most healthy people recover, listeriosis can be particularly dangerous for older adults, people with weakened immune systems and pregnant women. Approximately 90 percent of those infected require hospitalization, and 20 to 30 percent die. The CDC estimates about 1,600 cases of listeriosis in the United States each year, with roughly 260 fatalities.
Listeria is found in soil, rivers and lakes and can occur naturally in fish. Cold-smoked products use low temperatures that do not kill Listeria, and the bacterium can survive refrigerated temperatures, especially in vacuum-sealed items with extended shelf life. Inspectors from the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets detected Listeria during routine facility sampling and subsequent laboratory testing confirmed the presence of the organism in the fish.
High-risk groups include adults 65 and older, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems, who face a higher risk of severe illness. Listeriosis can cross the placental barrier, posing a serious threat to a fetus in pregnancy.
Consumers who purchased the recalled products should not eat them and should return them to the place of purchase for a refund. Anyone who may have eaten the products should monitor for symptoms such as fever, muscle aches, and gastrointestinal issues for up to several weeks and seek medical care if symptoms arise.
The recall underscores ongoing safety challenges in cold-smoked fish production and the importance of routine testing and monitoring at seafood facilities as authorities review processing records.