WASHINGTON, DC — A recall of cold-smoked salmon has been placed in the Food and Drug Administration’s most serious category after testing found contamination with Listeria monocytogenes, a bacterium that can cause severe illness or death. The FDA’s Class I designation means there is a reasonable chance the product could lead to serious health problems if eaten or handled by consumers.
Krasnyi Oktyabr Inc., a Brooklyn, New York-based wholesale distributor, recalled 86 cases of the fish after the contamination was identified. Federal health officials said no illnesses had been reported when the company announced the action, but the agency’s highest-risk classification reflects the potential danger for anyone who may still have the product at home or in commerce.
How to identify the recalled Starfish Seafood salmon
The recalled fish was sold in vacuum-sealed, 8-ounce plastic packages labeled Starfish Seafood Premium Cold Smoked Norwegian Salmon Sliced. The packaging includes UPC 4751048940099, lot D080-148, and a best-before date of Nov. 27, 2027.
According to the recall notice, the salmon came from Latvia and is stored frozen. The product was distributed in New York, Florida, Georgia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Ohio, widening the chance that consumers or businesses in several regions may have it in inventory or freezers.
Krasnyi Oktyabr said customers who received the affected lot were told to stop selling and distributing it, check remaining stock, and notify their own customers if needed. Anyone who has the product should avoid eating it and should treat it as recalled food.
New York state sampling uncovered the contamination
The contamination was discovered through product sampling by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets. That testing identified the presence of Listeria monocytogenes, prompting the recall and the FDA’s higher-risk classification.
Krasnyi Oktyabr is listed as the wholesale distributor rather than the manufacturer of the salmon. The company’s recall notice focused on removing the fish from sale and distribution, not on any reported customer illness. For now, the concern is prevention: making sure the affected product does not stay in the food supply or consumer freezers long enough to sicken someone.
The FDA’s Class I rating is reserved for situations where exposure to a recalled product has a reasonable chance of causing serious harm. In practical terms, that puts this salmon recall among the agency’s most urgent food safety alerts.
Listeria can be especially dangerous for pregnant people and older adults
Health officials say some groups face a higher risk of severe illness from listeria infection, including pregnant people, adults 65 and older, and people with weakened immune systems. During pregnancy, the infection can lead to pregnancy loss or serious health problems for a baby.
Symptoms may begin anywhere from a few days to two weeks after eating contaminated food. Severe cases can include confusion, a stiff neck, loss of balance, or seizures. Because the illness can take time to appear, people may not immediately connect symptoms to a food they ate days earlier.
Anyone who ate the recalled salmon and feels unwell should contact a healthcare provider, especially if pregnant. The FDA warning is aimed at limiting further exposure before any illness is confirmed.
Another smoked fish product was also recalled with no illnesses reported
In a separate action, Krasnyi Oktyabr also recalled Starfish Seafood Trio. That product carries lot D139149161-153 and an expiration date printed as “12/01/2027.”
The trio was distributed in New York, Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts, North Carolina, and South Carolina. As with the salmon recall, no illnesses had been reported in connection with that product when the announcement was made.
The company’s notices did not describe any illness clusters linked to either product. The recalls instead followed detection of contamination and the need to remove potentially affected smoked fish from circulation before it could be eaten.
What consumers should do now and who to contact
Consumers who find the recalled salmon or the Starfish Seafood Trio should not eat it. The safer step is to keep it out of circulation and follow retailer or distributor instructions if the product is still in inventory.
Krasnyi Oktyabr is asking affected customers to stop selling and distributing the fish, check stock, and inform downstream buyers as needed. For questions about the recall, consumers can call the company at 718-858-6720 on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern time.
The FDA’s warning underscores how quickly a routine food product can become a serious safety issue once listeria is found. Even without reported illnesses, the agency’s highest-risk label signals that the salmon should be treated as a meaningful health hazard until it is fully removed from use.
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