On the 14th of March, 2023, the company Seven Seas International USA LLC announced their recall of Biltmore Smoked Sockeye Salmon. This recall was then published by the United States Food & Drug Administration (FDA) on the 31st of March, 2023. The St. Petersburg based company, Seven Seas International USA LLC, is reportedly recalling 295 lots of their Biltmore Smoked Sockeye Salmon due to the product possibly being contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The possible presence of this bacteria was found during a scheduled examination by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
According to a National Food Poisoning Lawyer, Ron Simon, the cause for recalling the Biltmore Smoked Sockeye Salmon product is due to the danger of Listeriosis, which is, “a serious infection caused by eating food contaminated with the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes. The disease affects primarily persons of advanced age, pregnant women, newborns, and adults with weakened immune systems. However, persons without these risk factors can also rarely be affected…A person with listeriosis has fever, muscle aches, and sometimes gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea or diarrhea. If infection spreads to the nervous system, symptoms such as headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, or convulsions can occur. Infected pregnant women may experience only a mild, flu-like illness; however, infections during pregnancy can lead to miscarriage or stillbirth, premature delivery, or infection of the newborn…”
For identification, the affected Biltmore Smoked Sockeye Salmon can be found with a Lot code of R4058, and a Best By date of April 14th, 2023, which is printed on the clear, plastic packaging. If having already purchased the recalled Smoked Salmon, customers are advised to return the product to the location of purchase for a full refund.
Should one be experiencing the above-listed Listeriosis symptoms, individuals should contact their personal healthcare provider. In any case involving the symptoms of meningitis or encephalitis, victims should consider an cerebral spinal fluid culture. Though a medical professional may decide that this is too risky, it is often the only way to determine if the symptoms are linked to listeria poisoning.