Salmon Recall Issued in 7 States Over Deadly Listeria Risk

A nationwide recall of Haifa brand smoked fish products has been classified as a Class I risk—the highest alert level issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)—after potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes was discovered.

The recall, first announced by D&M Smoked Fish Inc. on September 17, affects two cold smoked seafood products: Haifa Cold Smoked Salmon (8 oz, lot number 219) and Haifa Cold Smoked Seabass (8 oz, lot number 212). The FDA elevated the recall classification to Class I on October 10, signaling “a reasonable probability” that consuming the affected products could cause serious health complications or even death.

What Was Recalled

The products in question were sold vacuum-sealed on paper boards wrapped in flexible plastic and distributed to New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Washington, California, Illinois, and Florida. The affected salmon carries the UPC code 8 32007 00002 4, and the seabass has the UPC code 8 32007 00151 9.

The contamination was identified through routine sampling by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets. Testing at The Food Laboratory confirmed the presence of Listeria monocytogenes, prompting the voluntary recall.

As of mid-September, no illnesses have been reported in connection with the recalled products, but federal health officials stress that listeria can be especially dangerous for certain groups of people.

Why It Matters

A Class I recall represents the most serious type of health warning. According to the FDA, it applies to situations where “use of or exposure to a violative product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death.”

Listeria can cause “serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems,” the agency warns. Pregnant women are also at heightened risk, as the infection can lead to miscarriages or stillbirths.

Healthy adults typically experience milder, short-term symptoms such as fever, nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea, but experts caution that early symptoms can easily be mistaken for other illnesses.

Expert Insights

“Listeria has an unusual capacity to grow at refrigerated temperatures,” said Mary O’Riordan, a professor of microbiology and immunology at the University of Michigan Medical School, speaking to Newsweek. “Although the bacterium can contaminate many types of food, cheeses or deli meats that are kept in cold storage for long periods are places where listeria can keep growing.”

O’Riordan noted that the bacteria can cause severe illness if it spreads to the brain, leading to meningitis. “If people experience headache, stiff neck or confusion, they should seek urgent medical attention,” she said.

Haley F. Oliver, a professor of food science at Purdue University, added that Listeria monocytogenes is “a common microorganism found in the natural environment, such as soil.” Oliver emphasized that severe infections most often occur in “immunocompromised people—so young, old, pregnant, or otherwise immunocompromised—who eat contaminated food.”

What Consumers Should Do

The FDA advises anyone who has purchased the affected smoked fish to stop eating it immediately. Consumers can return the products to their place of purchase for a full refund.

Even though no illnesses have yet been reported, health authorities are urging caution because listeria can incubate for weeks before symptoms appear. The recall remains ongoing, and D&M Smoked Fish Inc. has not yet provided an update on the total volume of products affected.

Customers with questions can contact Haifa Smoked Fish through D&M Smoked Fish Inc. directly or consult the FDA’s recall database for the latest updates.

For now, the incident serves as another reminder of the persistent threat posed by foodborne bacteria and the importance of following recall alerts closely, particularly for high-risk products like smoked or ready-to-eat seafood.

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