April 7, 2009
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning consumers about
another foodborne illness risk. The agency says consumers should not
eat Strubs Norwegian Style Sliced Smoked Steelhead Salmon in 300 gram
packages because of potential contamination with the bacterium
Listeria monocytogenes.
The bacteria can cause sickness and even death.
Distributed by West Side Foods Inc. of Bronx, N.Y., the smoked steelhead salmon was imported from Canada, and 13 cartons were sold to three kosher retail stores in New York and Maryland.
The Strubs brand Norwegian Style Sliced Smoked Steelhead Salmon was distributed in cartons containing vacuum-packed 300 gram packages bearing UPC code 0 71217 69997 4, registration number "0609", and stickers with a code date of 03MA09. There is no production date on the individual packages. There are 24 individual-300 gram packages per carton.
The FDA urges consumers who have purchased the Strubs product to dispose of the product in a safe manner and wash their hands thoroughly after handling the product.
The contamination was discovered by the FDA and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency during routine testing.
Listeriosis, the illness caused by L. monocytogenes, can be serious and sometimes cause fatal infections in young children, frail, or older people, and others with weakened immune systems.
Although healthy individuals may experience only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths.
No illnesses have been reported to date from the Strubs product. However, if individuals have experienced any of the symptoms listed, they should contact their health care provider.
