The wholesale retailer Costco has been recalling salmon packages off the shelves following concerns about contamination with listeria. They have also been asking customers to return any already purchased salmon packages to avoid being in contact with the bacteria.
This was following guidance given to Costco by Acme Smoked Fish Corp, and is another incident in a line of recent stories on products contaminated with listeria.
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Listeria is a pathogenic bacteria
The full scientific name is listeria monocytogenes bacteria. The pathogen can affect a person through food consumption, and can be harmful where it may cause damage to organs.
This makes recalling products where the bacteria may be present extremely important, even if it is only suspected and not confirmed.
Costco hurried to take their salmon off the shelves
The recall of salmon packages off Costco’s shelves came after their salmon provider Acme Smoked Fish Corp sent the information to Costco’s customers that the fish might be contaminated.
This communication was with customers in Costco’s records that have purchased the salmon packages between the days of October 9-13.
Only a certain lot number was affected
Thankfully, not all of Costco’s smoked salmon products were affected. Only the packages with lot number 8512801270 were said to have potentially been contaminated with listeria.
Their recall was an urgent and important move due to the severity of illnesses contracted from listeria monocytogenes.
Acme Smoked Fish Corp CEO apologized
In the notice sent to customers, Acme Smoked Fish Corp asked them not to consume the product and instead to return it to the wholesale store for a full refund.
The fish corporation’s CEO Eduardo Carbajosa apologized for the incident and reassured customers that the corporation will be taking steps to avoid making such mistakes again.
But this isn’t the first listeria risk we have heard of recently
Smoked salmon at Costco isn’t the first food product to be recalled after a risk of listeria contamination. It is only the latest in the line of recent incidents.
In the same month, TreeHouse Foods’ frozen waffle products were recalled due to fears that they held the pathogen.
Cheese and dairy were not spared either
Another incident in the line was Rizo-López Foods, a cheese company that was ordered to shut down after a listeria outbreak in its products.
The outbreak caused the death of two people and the illness of many more.
Listeria could also be found in meat
Boar’s Head, the premium deli meats maker, may have also caused 10 deaths after their meat products were found to contain listeria monocytogenes.
The company’s plant in Virginia where the contaminated products were traced back to has since shut down because of this.
What does listeria look like?
These incidents mean the pathogen listeria monocytogenes could contaminate a variety of processed foods, from fish and meat to cheese, dairy products, and even frozen goods.
A listeria infection could cause flu-like symptoms such as fever, headaches, and fatigue. It could also have more severe symptoms like seizures and difficulty walking.
Processing food could be the reason
The closer a food product is to being ready to eat, the more processed it gets, the extra processing steps ensure that the food does not go bad before consumption.
But CBS News medical contributor Dr. Céline Gounder told CBS Mornings that this also means that there is a chance of contamination with every extra step of processing.
Food manufacturers should take greater care
Although the process of food manufacturing may expose foods to contamination with pathogens such as listeria monocytogenes, processed foods are still products needed on the shelves.
Food manufacturers should, therefore, take safer measures in their food-making processes to avoid risks to the public health.
