Smoked Kippers and Cold Smoked Salmon Botulism Recall

By Bill Marler on March 30, 2018 in Botulism Recall

Masstown Market is recalling Masstown Market brand Smoked Kippers and Cold Smoked Salmon from the marketplace because they may permit the growth of Clostridium botulinum. Consumers should not consume the recalled products described below.

Recalled products

Pork Soup with Botulism Risk sent to Florida, California, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Texas and Washington

By Bill Marler on February 10, 2018 in Botulism Recall

Guymon Extracts recalled about 4,202 pounds of pork soup late Tuesday night after a processing problem left the soup vulnerable to spore-forming bacteria, including the one that causes botulism.

“Botulism is a life-threatening disease caused by the ingestion of a potent neurotoxin produced during growth of the C. botulinum bacteria,” the U.S. Department of Agriculture site explains. “This neurotoxin is among the most toxic substances known; even microscopic amounts can cause illness or death.”

That’s why this is a Class 1, High Health Risk recall, which the USDA defines as, “a health hazard situation where there is a reasonable probability that the use of the product will cause serious, adverse health consequences or death.”

More Trout Caviar Recalled Over Botulism

By Bill Marler on December 20, 2017 in Botulism Recall

The food recall warning issued on December 9, 2017 has been updated to include additional product information. This additional information was identified during the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s (CFIA) food safety investigation.

Imperial Caviar & Seafood is recalling Imperial Caviar & Seafood and VIP Caviar Club brand Trout Roe from the marketplace because they may permit the growth of Clostridium botulinum. Consumers should not consume the recalled products described below.

The following products have been sold in Quebec and Ontario.

Recalled products

Canadian Fish and Caviar Recalled over Botulism Concern

By Bill Marler on October 20, 2017 in Botulism Recall

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency says a variety of fish products from two grocery stores in the Toronto area are being recalled due to a risk of botulism.

The agency says the affected products were sold at Yummy Market stores in northern Toronto and Maple, Ont., and include the store’s brand of smoked herring, lesch, mackerel, rainbow trout, salmon and sturgeon.

The CFIA says the recall was issued last week after a consumer complaint and was recently expanded after a food safety investigation.

It says there have been no other illnesses reported that have been linked to the recalled fish products.

The CFIA advises people to throw out the recalled products or return them to the store where they were purchased.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency says a brand of caviar is being recalled because it may contain a dangerous toxin.

The agency says the International House of Caviar is recalling its brand of rainbow trout caviar due to a risk of botulism.

It says the caviar has been distributed in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario and Saskatchewan.

The recalled item is sold in 100-gram jars with a best before the date of Aug. 30, 2018.

The CFIA says there have been no reported illnesses linked to the caviar.

Food contaminated with Clostridium botulinum toxin may not look or smell spoiled, but can still make you sick.

Symptoms in adults can include facial paralysis or loss of facial expression, unreactive or fixed pupils, difficulty swallowing, drooping eyelids, blurred or double vision and difficulty speaking.

Symptoms in children can include difficulty swallowing, slurred speech, generalized weakness and paralysis.

Minnesota Dry Fish Botulism Recall

By Bill Marler on March 18, 2017 in Botulism Recall

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture has issued a consumer advisory for dried fish from a St. Paul market due to concerns about botulism.

The MDA said Friday that dried, uneviscerated fish sold from Shwe Karen Market has the potential to be contaminated with clostridium botulinum, which can cause life-threatening illness or death.

The product of concern is dried fish longer than 5 inches and still containing the internal organs. The fish was packaged in one kilogram clear plastic bags labeled “Dried Fish.” The fish was sold between Feb. 5 and March 2, 2017.

Lizard Fish Recalled

By Bill Marler on December 17, 2016 in Botulism Recall

Arcadia Trading Inc. of Brooklyn, NY, is recalling 34 cartons of Lizard Fish because they have the potential to be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum, a bacterium which can cause life-threatening illness or death.  Consumers are warned not to consume the product even if it does not look or smell spoiled.

Botulism, a potentially fatal form of food poisoning, can cause the following symptoms: general weakness, dizziness, double- vision, and trouble with speaking or swallowing.  Difficulty in breathing, weakness of other muscles, abdominal distension and constipation may also be common symptoms.  People experiencing these problems should seek immediate medical attention.

The Lizard Fish was distributed nationwide to supermarkets between 2/11/2014 and 7/8/2016.

The product was imported from Vietnam and is packed in uncoded bulk 15 kg boxes.

No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this problem.

The potential for the contamination was noted by an FDA Investigator during a follow-up inspection.  Subsequent FDA analysis of the product confirmed that the fish was not properly eviscerated prior to processing.  The company has ceased distribution of the product.

Michigan Botulism Worry

By Bill Marler on December 12, 2015 in Botulism Recall

The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is warning consumers that may have purchased any of the products listed below, produced by Lock Stock and Barrel Ranch of Onaway, Michigan, to dispose of all products immediately because they were manufactured without using the required controls for the safe production of processed foods. This potential problem was discovered by MDARD Inspectors with the Food & Dairy Division during the course of a routine food safety inspection. Products under recall include the following:

•    Beef Vegetable Soup
•    Tomato Basil Soup
•    Bacon Cauliflower Soup
•    Mama Splans Medium Salsa
•    Mama Splans Hot Salsa
•    Sweet Salsa
•    Tomatillo Salsa
•    Mango Salsa
•    Peach Salsa
•    Dilly Beans
•    Pickled Beets
•    Pickled Carrots
•    Pickled Mushrooms
•    Pickled Asparagus
•    Pickled Cauliflower
•    Pickled Garlic
•    Bread & Butter Pickles
•    Sweet & Hot Pickles
•    Dill Pickles
•    Dill Relish
•    Bloody Mary Mix
•    Spaghetti Sauce

Known products from this manufacturer were sold in glass jars ranging in size from 8 oz. to 32 oz. Acidifed and low-acid foods such as these pose a serious risk of botulism if pH and other critical factors are not carefully controlled during processing to prevent the growth of C. botulinum.

Botulism, a potentially fatal form of food poisoning, can cause the following symptoms: General weakness, dizziness, double vision, and trouble with speaking or swallowing, Difficulty in breathing, weakness of muscles, abdominal distension, and constipation may also be common symptoms. The very young, the elderly, and persons with compromised immune systems are the most susceptible to foodborne illness. People experiencing these problems should seek immediate medical attention.

No illnesses have been identified at this time. The products were sold at the firms retail outlet, the Lock Stock & Barrel Ranchs General Store, located at 20420 State Street in Onaway, Michigan. The products were also sold at various farm markets, including those in Rogers City, Posen, Indian River, and Gaylord Michigan.

Consumers who have any of these products or any foods made with these products should throw them away immediately. Double bag the products in plastic bags that are tightly closed and then place in a trash receptacle for non-recyclable trash outside of the home. Consumers with health concerns from consumption of the product should contact their health care provider.

Co-Packing Tied to 10th Canner with a Botulism Risk

By Bill Marler on October 28, 2015 in Botulism Recall

Josephson’s Smokehouse of Astoria, Oregon is latest US company to recall products packed by Skipanon Brand Seafood. Josephson’s Smokehouse is the tenth secondary recall of companies where Skipanon was co-packing.

These others are Dungeness Seaworks; Brigham Fish Market; Northwest Wild Products; Bornstein Seafood; The Spot; Pacific Oyster Co., dba The Fish Peddler; Garibaldi Cannery; Ecola Seafoods; and Vis Seafoods.

Josephson’s Smokehouse is recalling nine canned salmon, sturgeon and tuna products it received from Skipanon of Warrenton, Oregon with any codes starting with “OC” because it has the potential to be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum, a bacterium which can cause life-threatening illness or death, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced.

Consumers are warned not to use the product even if it does not look or smell spoiled.

The Josephson recall is affected by a voluntary recall initiated by Skipanon following an FDA inspection that turned up a lack of documentation and potentially under-processed products.

On Oct. 9, 2015, Skipanon recalled all lots and all sizes of its own brand of canned seafood products because of the potential botulism risk.

Uneviscerated Fish Botulism Risk

By Bill Marler on October 24, 2015 in Botulism Recall

Seaquest Seafood Corp. of Industry, CA, is recalling its Dehydrated & Marinated Uneviscerated Fish as listed below because they have the potential to be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum, a bacterium which can cause life-threatening illness or death. Consumers are warned not to use the product even if it does not look or smell spoiled.

Botulism, a potentially fatal form of food poisoning, can cause the following symptoms: general weakness, dizziness, double-vision and trouble with speaking or swallowing. Difficulty in breathing, weakness of other muscles, abdominal distention and constipation may also be common symptoms. People experiencing these problems should seek immediate medical attention.

The recalled items were distributed nationwide in retail stores and through restaurant distributors.

The products come in the corresponding weight listed below in clear plastic packages inside a master paper carton with Sunrise Brand on the sides of carton.

No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this recall.

The potential for contamination was noted after FDA inspection found that the product had not been eviscerated or was under-eviscerated.

– Sunrise Brand Marinated Silver/White Croaker, 30 x 14oz, Barcode 5 08 54336-50081 0
– Sunrise Brand Marinated Climbing Perch, 30 x 16 oz, Barcode 2 08 54336-20130 4
– Sunrise Brand Marinated River Barb,60 x 10 oz, Barcode 2 08 54336-20140 2
– Sunrise Brand Dehydrated Anchovy size 2/3cm, 1 x 22 lb, Barcode 5 08 54336-50161 9
– Sunrise Brand Dehydrated Anchovy size 3/5cm, 100 x 3.5oz, Barcode 2 08 54336-20161 9
– Sunrise Brand Dehydrated Anchovy size 1/2cm, 1 x 22 lb, Barcode 5 08 54336-50166 4
– Sunrise Brand Dehydrated Big-Eye Herrings, 1 x 3.3 lb, Barcode 5 08 54336-50201 2

Botulism Risk in Canned Tuna from Oregon

By Bill Marler on October 11, 2015 in Botulism Recall

Skipanon Brand Seafood LLC of Warrenton, OR, is voluntarily recalling ALL LOTS, ALL SIZES of ALL Skipanon brand canned seafood products because they have the potential to be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum, a bacterium which can cause life-threatening illness or death. Consumers are warned not to use any of the recalled product even if it does not look or smell spoiled.

Botulism, a potentially fatal form of food poisoning, can cause the following symptoms: general weakness, dizziness, double-vision and trouble with speaking or swallowing. Difficulty in breathing, weakness of other muscles, abdominal distention and constipation may also be common symptoms. People experiencing these problems should seek immediate medical attention.

There have been no reported cases of illness to date.

Products were distributed to wholesalers and retailers in Michigan, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington and sold to Internet customers nationwide from the website at skipanonbrand.com. The last date of distribution of recalled products is September 2015.

Affected production codes include any codes starting with “OC.” The code can be found either at the bottom or on top of the can. Products are packaged in metal cans with net weights ranging from 5.5 oz. to 66.5 oz.

This voluntary recall was initiated due to lack of documentation and possibly under-processed products. The problem was discovered during an inspection by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which is ongoing. This recall is being made with the knowledge of FDA and the Oregon Department of Agriculture.