A recalled fish product has been given the highest risk classification by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
North Fish USA has initiated a recall of its “Cold Smoked Capelin” due to the possibility of a life-threatening Clostridium botulinum contamination in the uneviscerated fish.
Although no illnesses have been reported in connection with the recalled fish, the FDA has given it a Class I classification, which is issued when there is a “reasonable probability” that the use of or exposure to a product could “cause serious adverse health consequences or death.”
The recall affects 9-ounce packages of the Cold Smoked Capelin, which were distributed in New York and Georgia states to be distributed further to retail stores on the East Coast.
Daniel Bockwoldt/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images
The affected products are marked with UPC code 4811527003360 and have best-before dates of July 13, 2024, and January 5, 2025. A total of 34 boxes—15 with the July 2024 date and 19 with the January 2025 date—are affected.
North Fish USA warns consumers not to use the product, even if it appears and smells normal.
The recall was prompted by a routine inspection conducted by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, which identified the potential contamination. Subsequent analysis by the state’s Food Laboratory confirmed the presence of Clostridium botulinum spores.
Consumers who have purchased the recalled Cold Smoked Capelin are “urged to return them to the place of purchase for a full refund.”
Newsweek has contacted the FDA and North Fish USA for comment via email outside business hours.
What is Botulism?
Clostridium botulinum, the bacterium responsible for botulism, can produce spores that thrive in uneviscerated fish, particularly those longer than 5 inches.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), botulism is a rare but serious foodborne illness.
It can cause symptoms such as muscle weakness, drooping eyelids, double vision, dizziness, difficulty swallowing, and, in severe cases, respiratory failure or death. Other symptoms can include vomiting, nausea, stomach pain, or diarrhea.
Contracting botulism is a medical emergency; the CDC advises people with symptoms to see a doctor or go to the emergency room immediately.
There are approximately 110 people who are diagnosed with botulism in the U.S. each year and so long as they receive the correct treatment, fewer than five in 100 patients will die.
Clostridium botulinum is a relatively common bacteria that does not often make people sick. According to the CDC, the problem occurs when it is put under certain conditions, such as low salt or sugar levels, and produces “one of the most lethal toxins known.”
