Listeria Monocytogenes Found in CATSMO LLC’s Cold Smoked Salmon in Wallkill, New York
A recall on cold smoked salmon has been issued after routine testing by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) found the presence of listeria monocytogenes. The company, CATSMO LLC, operating out of Wallkill, New York, announced the recall on their cold smoked salmon products as a precaution while the company investigates the source of the listeria contamination and executes a companywide cleanup plan.
The recalled cold smoked salmon was distributed in 11 different states located in retail stores as well as direct delivery. The states affected in the recall are: Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania Virginia, and Washington D.C.
The cold smoked salmon comes in vacuum-sealed plastic packaging, plain or flavored whole filets and their specialty cuts in four and eight ounces and one-pound sizes. A complete listing of every product included in this listeria recall can be accessed on the FDA’s website.
Listeria monocytogenes is a bacterium that is capable of growing in very cold temperatures and when it contaminates food, it is untraceable to the human eye or through taste. When ingested, listeria causes typical gastro symptoms such as diarrhea, nausea, achy muscles, and a fever. Symptoms usually present themselves within a few days of ingesting the contaminated food, but can sometimes not show up for a few weeks which make it hard to identify. It is important to contact a health care professional for appropriate testing and treatment when symptoms first present to ensure that the illness does not become more serious. In some patients with listeria, the infection spreads to the nervous system, this is called Listeriosis, and this can be fatal. This is most often found in very young children, the elderly as well as those with an already weekend immune system. Listeria is also much more serious in women who are pregnant. There are no reported illnesses from this listeria recall to date. Officials ask consumers to return the cold smoked salmon to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers are also asked to not prepare or serve the recalled salmon even if it appears fine.
