LA Star Seafood Co. of Los Angeles, CA is recalling fish products labeled as Vobla Dry and Vobla Smoked because they were improperly eviscerated, and therefore have the potential to be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum.

Consumers are warned not to use the product even if it does not look or smell spoiled.

There have not been any reported cases of illness related to these products.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration discovered the problem during an inspection. 

The sale of improperly eviscerated fish, 5 inches in length or greater, is prohibited because Clostridium botulinum spores are more likely to be concentrated in the viscera than any other portion of the fish. Uneviscerated fish has been linked to outbreaks of botulism poisoning which may pose a potentially life-threatening health hazard.

The recall is for:

– Vobla Dry, 20lb bulk boxes, not vacuum packed, no lot numbers or expiration dates.

– Vobla Smoked, 20lb bulk boxes, not vacuum packed, no lot numbers or expiration dates.

Products were distributed and sold at: Arbat Store, Utah; European Importing, Russian Import, and M and M Market, Northern California; Golden Farms Market, Karabagh Market, and Tashkent Market, Southern California; Global Importing, Oregon; Solomon’s Groceries and Europa, Colorado.

Customers who may have purchased the above products from February 28 to April 23, 2012 are urged to destroy or return the products to the place of purchase.

For more information contact the company at 213-687-6558, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. PST.

 

Symptoms of botulism include blurred or double vision, general weakness, poor reflexes, difficulty swallowing and respiratory paralysis, which may lead to death. People experiencing these problems should seek immediate medical attention.