Smoked fish recalled for possible botulism contamination

Certain Pangasinan brand smoked seafood products are being recalled due to potential contamination with Clostridium botulinum, a bacterium which can cause life-threatening illness or death. The company, Foremost Foods, International, Inc. of Pomona, CA, is recalling these products, shipped to California, Nevada, and Washington through Seafood City and Manila Seafood retail stores:

The recall was initiated after the FDA sampled the product and found it to be partially uneviscerated and may have the potential to cause Botulism.

There have been no illnesses reported to date.

Symptoms of botulism poisoning begin within 6 hours to 10 days (average is 12 and 36 hours) after eating food that contains the toxin. Symptoms of botulism include double vision, blurred vision, drooping eyelids, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing, dry mouth, and muscle weakness that moves down the body, usually affecting the shoulders first, then the upper arms, lower arms, thighs, calves, etc. Paralysis of breathing muscles can cause a person to stop breathing and die, unless assistance with breathing (mechanical ventilation) is provided.

Consumers who have purchased the above mentioned products are urged to return them to their place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact the company at (909) 525-9500 extension 154 (M-F 9:00AM to 5:00PM).