New York State Agriculture Commissioner Patrick Hooker today alerted consumers that Brighton Bazaar Inc. of Brooklyn, New York is recalling Treknas Atlantic Herring, because the product was uneviscerated and has the potential to be contaminated with clostridium botulinum, a bacterium which can cause life-threatening illness or death.
Consumers are warned not to consume the product even if it does not look or smell spoiled.
The recalled Treknas Atlantic Herring is packaged in a round plastic container with a net weight of 1.3 kg and was sold in New York State.
The Treknas Atlantic Herring was discovered by a New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets food inspector during a routine inspection and subsequent analysis of product by New York State Food Lab personnel confirmed the fish was not eviscerated prior to processing.
The sale of uneviscerated processed fish is prohibited under New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets’ regulations because Clostridium botulinum spores are more likely to be concentrated in the viscera than any other portion of the fish. Uneviscerated processed fish have been linked to outbreaks of Botulism poisoning.
Botulism is a serious and potentially fatal food-borne illness. Symptoms of Botulism include blurred or double vision, general weakness, poor reflexes, difficulty swallowing and respiratory paralysis.
No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this problem. Consumers who have Treknas Atlantic Herring are advised not to eat it.
