A California company is recalling smoked fish imported from the Philippines because it has the potential to be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum, a bacterium which can cause life-threatening illness or death.
Foremost Foods, International, Inc. of Pomona, CA, said the U.S. Food and Drug Administration sampled the smoked roundscad and mackerel and found the fish to be partially uneviscerated. Clostridium botulinum spores are more likely to be concentrated in the viscera than any other portion of the fish.
There have been no illnesses reported to date.
The recall is for certain Pangasinan brand smoked seafood products manufactured by FITRITE Incorporated of the Philippines and distributed in California, Nevada, and Washington through Seafood City and Manila Seafood retail stores.
The smoked fish was sold between March, 2010 and October, 2011 in clear, vacuum-packed plastic packages marked with these specific descriptions listed:
UPC Description
2239257451 PANGASINAN Roundscad Smoked Galunggong 60 6 OZ
2239257470 PANGASINAN Mackerel Smoked Hasa Hasa 60 6 OZ
Consumers may return the fish to their place of purchase for a full refund. For more information contact the company at 909-525-9500, extension 154, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.