Listeria risk in salmon products prompts recall

The products are sold at 14 New World and Pak 'n Save supermarkets in the North Island.
The products are sold at 14 New World and Pak 'n Save supermarkets in the North Island. Photo credit: MPI

Consumers are being warned to check their salmon products after a warning from the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) on Friday.

Prime Smoke brand Smoked Salmon Shavings had a possible presence of Listeria monocytogenes, MPI said.

In order to protect consumers, the product was being recalled from shelves by Hororata Foods Ltd.

The products are sold at 14 New World and Pak 'n Save supermarkets in the North Island.

New Zealand Food Safety national manager food compliance services Melinda Sando said only one batch of the product was affected.

"Look for the batch number 13012608F on the sticker on the back of the packet of the Smoked Salmon Shavings (100g)," she said.

Listeria risk in salmon products prompts recall
Photo credit: MPI

"If you have the affected product return it to the supermarket for a full refund or cook thoroughly.

"Listeriosis can be serious, and potentially life-threatening, among vulnerable groups such as pregnant women and their unborn babies, newborn babies, people with weakened immune systems and elderly people."

Sando said no reports of illness had yet been received but it can take a while before symptoms are seen.

"For those in the high-risk groups, listeriosis typically has an incubation period of two to three weeks (or longer) before symptoms appear. Healthy adults are likely to experience only mild infection, causing mild diarrhoea and flu-like symptoms."

Listeria risk in salmon products prompts recall
Photo credit: MPI

No other Prime Smoke brand products or any other products from Hororata Foods Ltd was affected by the recall, Sando said.

More details of where the product is sold can be found here.