Fish brand products listed below because they have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may possibly suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.
The recalled products were air-packed in bulk boxes and vacuum-packed in clear, plastic bags of various size packages including 4 oz., 8 oz., 16 oz. and random weight sides with the brand name "Haifa Smoked Fish" appearing on a label. Lot numbers appear on the bottom of the gold boards, labels, and/or on bulk boxes. The recalled units bear lot numbers 220; 221; 222; 223; 224; 225; 227; 228; 229; 230; 231; 232; 234; 235; 236; 237; 238; 239; 241; 242; 243 & 244 for the following products:
Cold Smoked Salmon
Cold Smoked Semga
Hot Smoked Semga
Cold Smoked Butterfish
Cold Smoked Butterfish – Salmon
Cold Smoked Sprats
Cold Smoked Capelin
Cold Smoked Sea Bass
Cold Smoked Sea Bass & Salmon
Hot Smoked Sea Bass
Cold Smoked Whitefish
Hot Smoked Whitefish
Cold Smoked Mackerel
Hot Smoked Mackerel Fillets
Hot Smoked Mackerel
Cold Smoked Turbot
Cold Smoked Herring
Shmaltz Herring
Herring in oil – glass jars
Hot Smoked Sable
Cold Smoked Rainbow Trout
Hot Smoked Gold Brook Trout
Cold Smoked Gold Brook Trout
Dry Capelin
Hot Smoked Lake Trout
Hot Smoked Paddle Fish
No other lot numbers are involved in this recall action.
The recalled products were sold between August 10, 2010 and September 3, 2010 to retailers and distributors in greater New York, New Jersey, and areas of Illinois. Consumers may have purchased the product(s) from retail food stores.
No illnesses have been reported to date.
The recall was a result of FDA sampling and analysis, which led to enforcement of a previous court order requiring production and distribution of the products to cease.
Consumers who have purchased any of the above lot codes of Haifa Smoked Fish brand products are urged to return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact the company at 1-718-523-8899, Monday through Thursday, 9 am to 5 pm, and on Fridays until 2 pm ET.
Source: D & M Smoked Fish, Inc.