Two Minnesota companies – Import Foods Wholesale and Seng Ong Wholesale – are recalling various types of imported fish because they may be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum spores, which can cause botulism.
In each case, Minnesota Department of Agriculture Laboratory personnel confirmed that the fish were not properly eviscerated prior to processing.
No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with either company’s products.
The sale of improperly eviscerated fish, 5 inches in length or greater, is prohibited because Clostridium botulinum spores are more likely to be concentrated in the viscera than any other portion of the fish. Uneviscerated fish has been linked to outbreaks of botulism poisoning, which may pose a potentially life-threatening health hazard.
Import Foods Wholesale Inc. of St. Paul, MN is recalling smoked croaker, smoked barracuda, smoked Big Eye and smoked red snapper imported from Guyana.
The Import Foods Wholesale recall is for:
– Smoked croaker in a 10 lb. cardboard box with code 298/11
– Smoked barracuda in a 10 lb. cardboard box with code 0282/011
– Smoked Big Eye in a 10 lb. cardboard box with code 287L10
– Smoked red snapper n a 10 lb. cardboard box with code 298-11
The fish were sold to retail stores in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Iowa.
Consumers who have the recalled fish are advised not to eat it. Return it to the place of purchase.
For more information contact the company at 612-876-5412.
Seng Ong Wholesale of St. Paul, MN is recalling dried mackerel and dried round scad imported from the Philippines.
The Seng Ong Wholesale recall is for:
– Pacific Isles Hasa Hasa Dried Mackerel in 48 oz. cardboard cases with lot numbers 3298 and 0760. This product was sold in Minnesota.
– Pacific Isles Galunggong Dried Round Scad in 48 oz. cardboard cases with lot numbers 3228 and 3168. This product was sold in Minnesota and South Dakota.
Consumers who have the recalled fish are advised not to eat it, but should return it to the place of purchase. For more information contact the company at 612-802-3240.
Symptoms of botulism include blurred or double vision, general weakness, poor reflexes, difficulty swallowing and respiratory paralysis, which may lead to death. People experiencing these problems should seek immediate medical attention.