Seafood Recall Update as FDA Sets Most Serious Risk Level Over Listeria

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has elevated its risk classification for two seafood recalls to the most serious level, Class I, due to concerns over Listeria contamination. The recalled products, Starfish Seafood Cold Smoked Norwegian Salmon and Starfish Seafood Cold Smoked Trio Salmon Halibut Trout, are distributed in multiple states across the U.S., including New York, Massachusetts, South Carolina, Florida, Georgia, Nevada, New Jersey, Ohio, and North Carolina.

Both recalls were initiated on October 6 by wholesale distributor Krasnyi Oktyabr Inc. based in Brooklyn, New York. The recalled frozen Norwegian salmon, UPC 4751048940099, lot D080-148, and expiration date November 27, 2027, and the vacuum-sealed 8-ounce packages of trio salmon with UPC 4751048940341 and expiration date December 1, 2027.

Despite the FDA's distribution list discrepancies, both products originated in Latvia and were distributed voluntarily to retailers. No illnesses were reported in connection with the recalled products, but consumers were advised not to eat them and return them for a full refund. Listeria monocytogenes, the bacterium causing listeriosis, can lead to severe health consequences or death.

High-risk groups include pregnant women, newborns, adults over 65, and those with weakened immune systems. Symptoms of listeriosis include diarrhea, vomiting, fever, and muscle aches, with invasive cases potentially leading to miscarriage, stillbirth, or life-threatening infections in newborns. The U.S. is currently investigating 25 possible foodborne illness outbreaks, including a major outbreak of Listeria linked to lettuce from central Mexico and others involving Salmonella, Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, and Campylobacter.