D & M Smoked Fish, Inc. (DBA Haifa Smoked Fish) in Jamaica, NY is recalling specific lots of Haifa Smoked 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.
[Images: Photos of labels for recalled products.]
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.
