Photo: Alena Haurylik (Shutterstock)
If your weekend plans include a leisurely home brunch with lots of smoked and / or pickled fish products, be sure to check the labels and possibly create a backup menu. This is because more than 80 different fish products have been recalled due to concerns about possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Here’s what you should know about the recall and what to do if you’ve bought one of the fish in question.
What’s included in the recall
A total of 84 fish products are part of a voluntary recall by their maker, Banner Smoked Fish, Inc. of Brooklyn, NY, including smoked fish, pickled fish, creamy fish, and fish salads. Items were sold online and in retailers in New York, New Jersey, Illinois, Pennsylvania, California, Florida, Nebraska, Arizona, Massachusetts, Maryland, Virginia, Ohio, Nevada, Oregon, Wisconsin, Michigan, Washington, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia.
So what’s the reason for the recall? A routine FDA inspection found that the fish products were processed under unsanitary conditions – particularly those that could contaminate the food with Listeria monocytogenes.
As of yesterday, there were no reports of illness related to eating any of the fish in the recall, but you don’t want to be the first: Listerias are no joke – especially for young children, older adults, and anyone with a weakened immune system. It’s also not a picnic for everyone else as it causes short-term symptoms such as a high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea FDA reports.
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The fish products come in a variety of sizes in both air and vacuum packs and are sold under a variety of brand names including Banner, Marshall’s Best, Supreme Fine Fish Products, Ben Z’s, BINGO, Westside Market NYC, New York Steelhead, and Golden Taste. You will find a full list of recalled products here, and pictures of many of theirs Labels and brand names here.
What to do if you bought the recalled products
This time it is not a question of determining whether you have items from a specific shipment or batch: Banner will recall all products that have not yet reached their expiry date (which can be found on the back of the package).
Anyone who has purchased the recalled fish items should return them to the place of purchase for a full refund. If you would like to contact the company directly, you can do so by calling (718) 449-1400 Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. EST.