Costco Has Recalled a Name-Brand Fish Product in One U.S. Region

Refrigeration and other food safety concerns have been a focus for Americans in an area of the country where weather’s been harsh lately. Now Costco members there will want to beware. On October 22, Costco announced that they have recalled a house-brand fish product citing concerns of contamination.

According to a letter from Brooklyn-based Acme Smoked Fish Corp., the company initiated the voluntary recall of their Kirkland Signature Smoked Salmon “out of an abundance of caution” for select warehouses in the Southeast region of the U.S., leaving many others unaffected. The recall is reportedly due to the potential presences of Listeria monocytogenes (L. monocytogenes).

The impacted smoked salmon was sold between October 6 and October 13, but bear “best by” dates in mid-November. The Acme notice states that the affected products are limited to lot number 8512801270.

According to Costco’s announcement, the Kirkland Signature Smoked Salmon was sold in a vacuum-sealed sleeve in the style of the image shown here. At many locations, this category of seafood is typically found near specialty sliced charcuterie meats.

posteriori/Getty Images

Eating food that has been contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes can lead to Listeriosis, a bacterial illness that can cause serious illness in seniors, pregnant women, infants, and people with weakened immune systems. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 1,600 people become infected with Listeriosis per year, and 260 people die from their illness.

Symptoms, which can include fever, chills, nausea, diarrhea, and muscle aches, will typically emerge within a few days to a month after consuming tainted food. According to the Mayo Clinic, there’s a different set of symptoms to look out for in more advanced or severe cases that have progressed to affect the nervous system. These are: Headaches, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions.

The news of this recall comes amid recent others at Costco which have also involved Listeria contamination concerns. Since early October, the bulk retailer has also recalled Rana Chicken Truffle Carbonara, Rana Tagliatelle Grilled White Chicken & Portobello Mushroom Sauce, El Monterey Mexican Grill Chicken & Cheese Taquitos, and Red’s Southwestern Grilled Chicken Mini Burritos, citing bacterial contamination as the cause. It may be possible these products were linked with the nationwide recall of 10 million pounds of meat this month.

If you have purchased the affected fish product, you can return it to Costco for a full refund. Do not open or consume it. If you have any questions regarding the recall, you can contact Acme Smoked Fish Corp. by phone at (718) 383-8585. “We regret this unfortunate incident and have taken immediate corrective steps to ensure that this issue never happens again,” the company wrote.

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