P. East Trading Corp Distributors of Bronx, NY, is recalling its Salted Smoked Split Herring because the product, found to be over 5 inches in length and uneviscerated, has the potential to be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum, a bacterium that can cause life-threatening illness or death.

The issue was identified during a routine inspection by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets Food Inspector, with subsequent analysis by the New York State Food Laboratory confirming that the herring was not properly eviscerated prior to processing. Uneviscerated fish over 5 inches in length may harbor Clostridium botulinum spores, which are more likely to be concentrated in the viscera.

Recalled Product:

Product: Salted Smoked Split Herring

• Packaging: 18 lbs. wooden boxes
• Container Code: Lot 1 PRC5073
• Origin: Product of Canada, manufactured by Sea Star Seafood Ltd.
• Distribution: Retail locations in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut, likely repacked in deli-style or other retail packaging (packaging and coding vary by location).

The recalled product was distributed to numerous retail stores, including:

• Pioneer Supermarket, Newark, NJ
• Joe’s Market #3, Irvington, NJ
• Key Food Supermarket, Laurelton, NY
• Happy Fruit Market, Teaneck, NJ
• Extra Super Market, East Orange, NJ
• Super Fresh, Irvington, NJ
• Food Bazaar Supermarket, North Bergen, NJ
• Food World Super Fresh, Middlesex, NJ
• Food Bazaar Supermarket, Fairview, NJ
• Tropical Sun Supermarket, East Orange, NJ
• Ideal Food Basket, Brooklyn, NY
• William’s Farm #2, Yonkers, NY
• S & H Fruits and Vegetables, Bronx, NY
• Food Bazaar Supermarket (Myrtle), Brooklyn, NY
• C Town Supermarket, Brooklyn, NY
• Key Food Supermarket, Brooklyn, NY
• Americas Food Basket, Brooklyn, NY
• Food Bazaar Supermarket, Westbury, NY
• MK NY Fish & Vegetables, Bronx, NY
• Tropical Dairy Farm Corp., Bronx, NY
• Food Bazaar Supermarket (161 St), Bronx, NY
• Value Fresh Market Inc, Hollis, NY
• Ideal Food Basket, Brooklyn, NY
• Key Food Fresh, Brooklyn, NY
• Lulucoco, Inc, Spring Valley, NY
• Chop Shop Fresh Meat Market, Brooklyn, NY
• Market Fresh, Newburgh, NY
• C Town Supermarket, Hempstead, NY
• Family Best Farm, Brooklyn, NY
• Rosedale Fruit, Jamaica, NY
• S Won Provision Inc, Bronx, NY
• Food Bazaar Supermarket, Hempstead, NY
• Super Fresh, Baldwin, NY
• Fruit Tree Farm, Copiague, NY
• Brother’s Produce Co., Bronx, NY
• Golden Citrus Market Inc, Brooklyn, NY
• Shop Fair Supermarket, Bronx, NY
• Y & R Farm Inc., Brooklyn, NY
• Johns Farm Market, Queens, NY
• Food Bazaar Supermarket, New York, NY
• Key Food Supermarket, Far Rockaway, NY
• New Utica Food Market Corp., Brooklyn, NY
• Ideal Food Basket, Brooklyn, NY
• Joy Best Fruit, Brooklyn, NY
• Ideal Food Basket Supermarket, Brooklyn, NY
• Z & H Mini Market, Brooklyn, NY
• Yellow Market, Brooklyn, NY
• SK Farm EP Corp, Brooklyn, NY
• K – Super Market, Jamaica, NY
• Food Bazaar Supermarket (Mt Vernon), Bronx, NY
• Best H&H, Inc, Bronx, NY
• DK Family Produce, Brooklyn, NY
• Co Co Market Inc, Brooklyn, NY
• Market Fresh, Middletown, NY
• Food Bazaar Supermarket, Bridgeport, CT
• Food Bazaar Supermarket (Junius), Brooklyn, NY
• Bogopa Farmbria, Queens, NY
• Best Farm Market, Brooklyn, NY
• Green Point, Jamaica, NY
• J & D Farm Market Corp., Jamaica, NY
• Food Bazaar Supermarket (Manhattan Ave), Brooklyn, NY
• Mango King Farmers Market, Brooklyn, NY
• Super Fresh Supermarket, Brooklyn, NY
• Green Fruit – Sutphin, Jamaica, NY
• Merrick Country Foods, Queens, NY
• Kingsbridge Farm, Bronx, NY
• Asia Supermarket Inc / JD Produce, Syracuse, NY
• Food Bazaar Supermarket (57), Corona, NY
• Liberty Produce Corp., Richmond Hill, NY
• Golden Mango Farm, Ozone Park, NY
• Key Food Supermarket, Brooklyn, NY
• Food Bazaar Supermarket (163), Bronx, NY
• Food Bazaar Supermarket, Trenton, NJ
• West Indian Farm Market, Queens, NY

As of the posting of this recall, no illnesses have been reported in connection with this product.

Consumers are warned not to consume the product, even if it does not look or smell spoiled, and are urged to return it to the place of purchase for a full refund.

about botulism poisoning
Untreated, botulism can paralyze the muscles needed for breathing, resulting in sudden death.

Anyone who has consumed any recalled product and developed signs of botulism poisoning should immediately seek medical attention, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 

“In foodborne botulism, symptoms generally begin 18 to 36 hours after eating contaminated food. However, symptoms can begin as soon as 6 hours after or up to 10 days later,” according to the CDC website.

The symptoms of botulism may include some of all of the following: double vision, blurred vision, drooping eyelids, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing, difficulty breathing, a thick-feeling tongue, dry mouth, and muscle weakness. People with botulism poisoning may not show all of these symptoms at once.

These symptoms result from muscle paralysis caused by the toxin. If untreated, the disease may progress, and symptoms may worsen to cause paralysis of specific muscles, including those used in breathing and those in the arms, legs, and the body from the neck to the pelvis area.