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The FDA issued a public warning about cold-smoked sprats sold by Haifa Smoked Fish Inc. after inspecting the facility and finding required controls to prevent Clostridium botulinum growth and toxin formation were not in place. The agency recommended a recall, but the company declined; consumers and food businesses are being told not to eat, sell or serve the product.
The Food and Drug Administration has warned consumers not to eat cold-smoked sprats sold by Haifa Smoked Fish Inc., saying the products were made without required controls to prevent the growth of Clostridium botulinum, the bacterium that can cause botulism. The agency said it recommended that the company recall products already on the market, but the firm declined to recall them, prompting the public warning.
The FDA said it inspected the production facility of D&M Smoked Fish Inc., which does business as Haifa Smoked Fish Inc. The facility is in Jamaica, New York. Inspectors found that controls were not in place to prevent Clostridium botulinum growth and toxin formation in the company’s cold-smoked sprats. The warning concerns the product, not all smoked fish.
The agency recommended that D&M Smoked Fish recall all of its cold-smoked sprats currently on the market. According to the FDA, the company declined. The agency issued its alert to notify consumers of the potential botulism risk if they eat sprats sold by Haifa Smoked Fish. The notice does not say that contamination has been confirmed in a specific package or that an illness has been reported.
The FDA advises retailers, restaurants, wholesalers and other food-service customers not to sell or serve the sprats. People who are unsure whether a product came from Haifa Smoked Fish should contact the place where they bought it or their supplier. The warning identifies the product by company and type, but the supplied notice does not list specific package sizes, lot codes or a best-before date.
Why the Botulism Warning Matters
Botulism is a serious concern because the toxin can affect the nerves and, if untreated, cause paralysis of muscles used for breathing. The FDA says contaminated food may not look, smell or taste spoiled, so consumers cannot reliably assess the risk by inspecting or tasting the sprats. The warning applies even if a package seems normal.
The company’s decision not to recall the product means the FDA is relying on its public notice to reach consumers and food businesses. Avoiding the product and stopping its sale or service can reduce the chance that people eat it while the alert is in effect. Anyone who has eaten the sprats and develops possible symptoms should seek immediate medical attention, rather than waiting for symptoms to worsen.
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Inspection Led to the Public Alert
The FDA’s warning followed an inspection in which the agency said it found the facility lacked controls required to prevent Clostridium botulinum from growing and producing toxin. The published report says the FDA recommended a recall, the company refused, and the agency then issued a warning to consumers. It does not provide further detail about when the inspection took place or what corrective actions, if any, the firm has taken.
Foodborne botulism symptoms generally begin 18 to 36 hours after eating contaminated food, according to the notice, but onset can range from six hours to as long as 10 days. Possible signs include double or blurred vision, drooping eyelids, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing or breathing, dry mouth, a thick-feeling tongue and muscle weakness. A person may not have every symptom.
“The FDA has recommended D&M Smoked Fish Inc. recall all cold smoked sprats currently on the market, but the firm has declined.”
— U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Product Lots and Illness Reports
The published warning does not specify lot numbers, package details or distribution dates, so consumers may need to ask a retailer or supplier to identify whether their sprats came from the company. The notice also does not state that botulinum toxin was detected in a tested product, or report any confirmed illnesses linked to the sprats. It describes a potential risk based on the production controls found during inspection.
The FDA’s notice says the company declined the recommended recall, but does not explain the company’s reasons or state whether the firm later changed its position. The available information also does not clarify whether the FDA has taken additional regulatory action or whether the product remains available at particular outlets.
Consumers and Sellers Should Check
Consumers who have cold-smoked sprats labeled as Haifa Smoked Fish should not eat them and should contact the retailer or supplier for guidance on identifying the product and what to do with it. Retailers and food-service businesses should not sell or serve the sprats, in line with the FDA’s advice. The agency’s notice does not specify a return or disposal process.
People who ate the product and develop symptoms associated with botulism should seek medical care immediately. The FDA may provide further information if product identification details, company actions or additional findings become available; those details were not included in the published report.
Key Questions
Which fish product is covered by the FDA warning?
The warning concerns cold-smoked sprats sold by Haifa Smoked Fish Inc. The company is the trade name of D&M Smoked Fish Inc., according to the report.
Why did the FDA issue a warning?
The FDA said an inspection found that required controls to prevent Clostridium botulinum growth and toxin formation were not in place. The company declined the agency’s recommended recall.
Can I tell whether the sprats are contaminated by looking or smelling them?
No. The FDA says food contaminated with botulism-causing spores may not look, smell or taste bad. Do not taste the product to check whether it is safe.
What should I do if I ate the sprats?
Seek immediate medical attention if you develop possible botulism symptoms, including vision problems, drooping eyelids, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing or breathing, or muscle weakness. The FDA says symptoms may begin within hours or take up to 10 days to appear.
What should stores and restaurants do?
The FDA says retailers, restaurants, wholesalers and food-service customers should not sell or serve the cold-smoked sprats. Businesses unsure of the product’s source should contact their supplier.
Source: rss
