Costco alerted its customers that certain packages of smoked salmon and Belgian waffles have been recalled over possible listeria contamination.
Costco’s website published a recall notice on Oct. 24 cautioning customers who purchased packages of Kirkland Signature Smoked Salmon that the fish may contain the potentially deadly bacteria.
The suspect salmon—produced by Acme Smoked Fish Corporation—was sold between Oct. 9 and Oct. 13.
The fish is sold in twin packs containing 12 ounces of smoked salmon and are listed in Costco’s catalog under item #1267000.
The potentially contaminated products were only sold in southeastern U.S. Costco locations, and all have the same lot number—8512801270—visible to the right of the Kirkland logo on the packages.
Eduardo Carbajosa, CEO of Acme Smoked Fish Corporation, a New York-based company that produces smoked salmon for the warehouse chain, sent a letter to Costco members urging them not to consume the relevant items.
He asked customers to return the items to Costco, where they would get a full refund.
“We regret this unfortunate incident and have taken immediate corrective steps to ensure that this issue never happens again,” he said.
Waffles
The same day, Costco also issued a recall notice for Krusteaz Belgian Waffles, listed on Costco’s catalog as item #547374, also for possible contamination with listeria, although the two recalls appear unrelated.
Krusteaz Belgian Waffles is a product of TreeHouse Foods.
The packages contain 24 waffles each and were sold between Oct. 13-21, the company said.
Krusteaz Belgian Waffles sold at Costco stores between Oct. 13 and Oct. 21 have been recalled over possible listeria contamination. (Courtesy of TreeHouse Foods).
TreeHouse Foods Vice-President of Food Safety and Quality Paula Klassen sent a letter to Costco members urging them not to consume the waffles but to return them to Costco for a full refund.
TreeHouse Foods announced on Oct. 22 that it is voluntarily recalling all of its waffle and pancake products due to potential listeria contamination.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) listed food brands affected by this. The recalled products have been distributed in both the United States and Canada.
Biggest Listeriosis Risks
Customers should avoid taking risks, as listeria monocytogenes bacteria will continue multiplying even when the contaminated food is refrigerated.
Once ingested, listeriosis develops—usually, the symptoms remain limited to vomiting and diarrhea. These begin within 24 hours of eating the contaminated food, usually last one to three days, and are easily treated with antibiotics.
Most at risk are the unborn: even with a mild infection, there is a 20 percent chance the baby will not survive, either during pregnancy or shortly after birth.
The infection may also spread beyond the gut, leading to serious invasive illnesses.
Symptoms of invasive listeriosis include fever, fly-like muscle aches, confusion, even seizures. These symptoms usually begin within 2 weeks after eating contaminated food.
According to the CDC, of the 1,600 people that are infected with listeria each year, 260 die—more than 16 percent or roughly one in six.