Food Safety Humor

FSPCA - Food Safety Preventive Controls Alliance

Monday, October 11, 2021

Salmonella Outbreak Associated with Fresh Fish Affects 102 People, Colorado Company Issues Recall

FDA and CDC are investigating a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Thompson infections linked to seafood manufactured or processed by Northeast Seafood Products, Inc. of Denver, CO. To this point, there have been 102 total cases with 19 hospitalizations.   According to CDC, the majority of sick people are either Colorado residents or reported traveling to Colorado during the week they got sick. Only two people did not report traveling to Colorado during the week they got sick.

Northeast Seafood Products, Denver, CO, is voluntarily recalling certain types of seafood that were processed at our facility because they have the potential of being contaminated with Salmonella,  The items being recalled are: Haddock, Monkfish, Bone-in Trout, Grouper, Red Snapper, Red Rock Cod, Ocean Perch, Pacific Cod, Halibut, Coho Salmon, Atlantic Salmon Portions, Lane Snapper, Tilapia, All Natural Salmon Fillet, Pacific Sole, and Farm Raised Striped Bass.

One would expect that there must be a high level of Salmonella present in order for that many people to become infected.  And while undercooking could be an cause, a bigger issue may be handling of the raw fish in the kitchen.  I wonder to what degree people handle raw fish as a raw protein product, akin to poultry, pork or beef?

https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/outbreak-investigation-salmonella-thompson-seafood-october-2021
Outbreak Investigation of Salmonella Thompson – Seafood (October 2021)
Do not eat, sell, or serve recalled seafood sold in Colorado
Case Counts
Total Illnesses: 102
Hospitalizations: 19
Deaths: 0
Last Illness Onset: September 7, 2021
States with Cases: AZ (1), CO (82), CT (1), IA (1), MN (2), MO (1), NE (2), NJ (2), PA (1), TX (2), VA (2), WA (2), WI (2), WY (2)
Product Distribution*: CO
*States with confirmed distribution; product could have been distributed further

The FDA, along with CDC and state and local partners, are investigating a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Thompson infections linked to seafood manufactured or processed by Northeast Seafood Products, Inc. of Denver, CO. According to CDC, the majority of sick people are either Colorado residents or reported traveling to Colorado during the week they got sick. Only two people did not report traveling to Colorado during the week they got sick.

CDC’s analysis of epidemiological information indicates that seafood is the leading hypothesis for the cause of illnesses linked to this outbreak. FDA’s traceback investigation identified Northeast Seafood Products, Inc. as a common distributor among illness subclusters. As part of this outbreak investigation, environmental samples were collected from Northeast Seafood Products, Inc. On 10/7/2021, environmental samples collected from Northeast Seafood Products, Inc. were reported positive for Salmonella Thompson and were determined to be a match to the outbreak strain through whole genome sequencing.

On 10/8/2021, Northeast Seafood Products, Inc. recalled Haddock, Monkfish, Bone-in Trout, Grouper, Red Snapper, Red Rock Cod, Ocean Perch, Pacific Cod, Halibut, Coho Salmon, Atlantic Salmon Portions, Lane Snapper, Tilapia, All Natural Salmon Fillet, Pacific Sole, and Farm Raised Striped Bass. These products were sold to restaurant and Albertsons, Safeway, and Sprouts supermarkets in Colorado. The Pacific Cod sold through Sprouts is not being recalled. A full list of recalled products is available on FDA’s website. At this time, Northeast Seafood Products, Inc. has temporarily shut down production.

Recommendation

Consumers, restaurants, and retailers should not eat, sell, or serve any recalled seafood. FDA recommends that anyone who might have purchased or received recalled product, check their refrigerators and freezers and throw away recalled product.

A full list of recalled products is available on FDA’s website.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/northeast-seafood-products-recalls-seafood-products-because-possible-health-risk
Northeast Seafood Products Recalls Seafood Products Because of Possible Health Risk
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  October 08, 2021
FDA Publish Date:  October 08, 2021
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Potential for Salmonella
 Company Name:  Northeast Seafood Products
Brand Name:  Northeast Seafood Products
Product Description:  Raw, fresh seafood

Company Announcement

Northeast Seafood Products, Denver, CO, is voluntarily recalling certain types of seafood that were processed at our facility because they have the potential of being contaminated with Salmonella, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more sever illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e. infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.

The items being recalled are: Haddock, Monkfish, Bone-in Trout, Grouper, Red Snapper, Red Rock Cod, Ocean Perch, Pacific Cod, Halibut, Coho Salmon, Atlantic Salmon Portions, Lane Snapper, Tilapia, All Natural Salmon Fillet, Pacific Sole, and Farm Raised Striped Bass.

These items were distributed from May 2021 to October 7, 2021 to restaurants and Albertsons, Safeway, and Sprouts supermarkets in Colorado. The recalled items would have sold out of their fresh seafood cases. The Pacific Cod sold through Sprouts is not being recalled.

The recall is the result of several positive samples revealed during an FDA. inspection. FDA and CDC have informed us that these positive samples are linked to an outbreak of Salmonella illness. The production area of our facility has been temporarily shut down until such time as the FDA and the company determine that the problem has been corrected.

Consumers who have purchased raw, fresh, unpackaged seafood are urged to return the product to the place of purchase for a full refund.

Consumers with questions may call Northeast Seafood directly at 303-373-2226. Monday to Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. mountain time.

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