Salmon urgently recalled over potential listeria contamination

Bags of Atlantic Salmon are being recalled across the United States due to potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination - here’s everything you need to know.

Last week (12 February), the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published an urgent notice on behalf of Waltham, Mass. - Slade Gorton & Co., Inc.

It stated that the company was recalling lot 3896 of Wellsley Farms Farm-Raised Atlantic Salmon, which was sold in 2lbs bags at various BJ’s Wholesale Clubs.

You can find the item’s UPC code, 888670025963, on the reverse of the bag.

Seven states are impacted by the potentially contaminated Wellsley Farms Farm-Raised Atlantic Salmon.

These are: Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Virginia.

The recall has been issued due to the potential for the product to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, a type of disease-causing bacterium that can be found in many places, including soil, water, sewage, raw meat, and fish.

Bags of salmon have been recalled across the United States (FDA)

When people eat food contaminated with the bacteria, they may develop a disease called listeriosis, according to the FDA.

There are two forms of the disease: gastrointestinal and invasive listeriosis.

Symptoms for the former include fever, muscle aches, vomiting, and diarrhoea.

Invasive listeriosis, which can occur when the Listeria spreads beyond the intestines, can cause headaches, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions.

Invasive listeriosis can be life-threatening, especially for newborns, adults over the age of 65, and those with weakened immune systems.

The FDA say that the presence of the bacteria was found in the salmon after it ‘randomly collected’ a sample.

Slade Gorton & Co, Inc, is reportedly ‘investigating how the contamination occurred and taking steps to keep it from happening again’.

Meanwhile, BJ’s Wholesale Club is directly notifying its members who may have purchased the recalled product from 31 January through to 7 February.

Seven states are affected by the recall (FDA)

If you believe you purchased the recalled product, you can obtain a full refund and gain advice on what to do with the perishable item by calling 1-888-628-0730 at any time.

The recall comes just days after more than 6,000 cases of M&M's were urgently recalled due to labelling issues.

According to authorities, the sweet treats contained milk, peanuts and soy that were not listed on the packaging, creating a potential risk for people with food allergies.

The particular M&M's were not sold through the standard supermarket channels, but were instead repackaged for promotional use and dispersed across univeristy campuses, handed out and conferences, and at corporate events.

Bags of repackaged M&Ms were recalled earlier this month (Getty Stock Image)

Repackaging was carried out by Beacon Promotions Inc., with up to 20 states affected.

The FDA has published full details of the recall, including lot numbers and sell-by dates.

Anyone who may have received promotional M&M’s should check them carefully, the experts advised.