In a news release Friday, Vita Food Products announced the voluntary recall of a smoked salmon product due to potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes, an organism that can cause serious, and sometimes fatal, infections, especially in people with weakened immune systems.
Subject to recall are 8,088 individual retail packages of 4 oz Vita Classic Premium Sliced Smoked Atlantic Nova Salmon. No confirmed illness or complaints have been reported to Vita Food Products by consumers.
The recalled smoked salmon comes in black vacuum-sealed packages that display the Vita logo centered at the bottom of the package. The package is 7 3/4 inches wide by 7 1/4 inches high and contains four to five slices (totaling 4 oz) of smoked salmon. The affected packages have a sell by date of December 15, 2011 and a date code of 01961B. The packages of smoked salmon were sold in over 20 states.
Anyone who purchased the affected product on or after July 25, 2011, should not consume any of the product; instead the smoked salmon should be placed in a sealed plastic bag or container and return it to the place of purchase. Consumers who purchased the recalled salmon are encouraged to contact Vita Food Products.
Listeria infection can lead to listeriosis, which is uncommon; however, it is a serious, and in some cases fatal, illness, especially in elderly or frail people, children, and people with compromised immune systems. Symptoms include fever, headache, stiffness, abdominal pain, nausea and diarrhea. Among pregnant women, Listeria infection can lead to stillbirths and miscarriages.
Being a Los Angeles personal injury attorney, I hope no one has been sickened by consuming the recalled salmon. As a product defect lawyer, consumer health is something that I am very conscious of; I encourage anyone who is experiencing the symptoms of listeriosis to seek immediate medical attention.