An undisclosed amount of smoked salmon made by a New York-based company is being recalled sue to potential listeria contamination.
According to the report from Food Safety News, Mt. Kisco Smokehouse has voluntarily recalled two kinds of retailed salmons distributed in New York and Connecticut restaurants and retail stores from September 6 to September 16. The recall includes Atlantic Smoked Salmon Whole with lot numbers 13723516 and 12125316 and Sliced - Smoked ATLANTIC SALMON, Net Wt. with lot numbers 12125116, 12125216, 11325716 and 11325816.
The recall was made after FDA inspectors conducting routine tests found traces of Listeria monocytogenes in the floor drain and cracks in the floor. The production of the product has been temporarily suspended while the FDA and the company are investigating the source of the contamination.
In a report from the Journal News, Hernan Hurtado, vice president of Mount Kisco Smokehouse, noted that their company has replaced its floor and the drain in question was removed. Additionally, Hurtado said that no traces of listeria were detected in the 100 swabs taken after their cleaning and rehabilitation.
No illness associated with the recalled products was reported. However, as a preventive measure, Mt. Kisco Smokehouse and FDA are urging consumers who bought products included in the recall list to return them to their place of purchase for refund or just disposed it.
The whole product is packed in an unlabeled paper box and delivered to restaurants. The sliced product is sold in a clear plastic package and labeled on the back with lot and use by date.
Listeria monocytogenes is the species of pathogenic bacteria that causes the infection listeriosis. Healthy people with listeriosis may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea. However, people with weakened immune systems, pregnant women, older adults and children may suffer from fatal infections caused by Listeria monocytogenes. Listeriosis can even cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.