Smoked Salmon Recalled in Six States Due to Listeria Risk
New York-based Krasnyi Oktyabr Inc. is voluntarily recalling its frozen Starfish Seafood Premium Cold Smoked Norwegian Salmon.
An urgent recall has been issued for packaged smoked salmon sold in six states due to potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes, the bacteria that causes listeriosis.
New York-based Krasnyi Oktyabr Inc. is voluntarily recalling its frozen Starfish Seafood Premium Cold Smoked Norwegian Salmon. The recall applies to products in 8-ounce (227-gram) vacuum-sealed plastic packages sold under the brand name Starfish Seafood. The affected salmon was distributed in New York, Florida, Georgia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. Consumers can identify the recalled product by its lot number D080-148.
Krasnyi Oktyabr Inc. initiated the recall after the potential contamination was identified by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets. The company, which is a wholesale distributor and did not manufacture the recalled product, stated that the product's country of origin is Latvia. The company is cooperating with the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, has notified affected customers, and requested they discontinue use and distribution of the recalled product.
No illnesses have been reported in connection with this recall. This is the second recall from the company this week concerning Listeria contamination. On Monday, Krasnyi Oktyabr Inc.'s Starfish Seafood Trio – Cold Smoked Salmon, Halibut and Trout – was also recalled. That recall affected 8-ounce vacuum-sealed packages distributed in New York, Florida, Massachusetts, North Carolina, and South Carolina, identified by lot number D139149161-153 with an expiration date of December 1, 2027. No illnesses were reported for that recall either.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is urging customers who have purchased the recalled product to not consume it and to return it to the place of purchase. While the exact cause of contamination is unknown, Listeria can be found in foods such as unpasteurized milk, soft cheeses, ready-to-eat meals, cooked shellfish, cured meats, fish, and pre-cut fruit. Though most people infected with Listeria recover, the bacteria can cause severe illness, including fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions. It can also lead to miscarriages and stillbirths in pregnant women, with approximately 250 deaths occurring annually in the U.S.