Smoked salmon sold at Wal-Mart’s Sam’s Club stores nationwide is being recalled in 42 states, including California, and Puerto Rico amid listeria concerns.
The fish was produced by a Miami subsidiary of Multiexport Foods Inc. in conjunction with Tampa Bay Fisheries Inc. The companies are pulling the product “with an overabundance of caution,” according to a Wal-Mart statement.
The listeria monocytogenes bacteria – which can cause fatal infections in the elderly, the young and those with weak immune systems, and lead to fever, nausea and diarrhea in other victims – was discovered during a standard lab test on a shipment of the salmon that hadn’t been distributed to stores, according to Wal-Mart.
No illnesses have been linked to the product, the mega-retailer said. The voluntary recall was first launched last week and expanded this week.
Cold smoked salmon in 12-ounce twin packs – which are vacuum-sealed with a cardboard sleeve – and 1.25-pound bundles under the brand “Paramount Reserve” are included in the recall.
The UPC code for the twin pack is 6 88264 86705 0 while the code for the 1.25-pound pack is 6 88264 86664 0. More specific codes on stickers attached to the back of packages can be found here.
Consumers can bring back the products, which were distributed to retail outlets between Nov. 12 and Dec. 21, for a full refund, Wal-Mart said.
In a note to customers, Frank Yiannas, Wal-Mart’s vice president of food safety, wrote that Tampa Bay Fisheries and Multiexport Foods are cooperating with the Food and Drug Administration.
Affected stores are in Alabama, Arkansas, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Montana, Missouri, Mississippi, Nebraska, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, New Mexico, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Washington, Virginia, Wisconsin and West Virginia.
