Salmon Lox Recall Issued due to Listeria Concern
The Oregon Lox Company announced a recall of several of its smoked salmon products due to potential Listeria contamination. Potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination prompted the salmon recall, which involves several different brands of lox. This voluntary recall covers various brands of Wild Cold Smoked Keta Salmon Lox. Alaska, California, Oregon, and Washington all received shipments of these products for distribution.
The company uses plastic vacuum sealed packaging for the recalled products. Additionally, the recalled salmon is sold in different sizes and widths and under various brand names. A routine sample taken by the Washington State Department of Produce resulted in the ongoing recall. Both the FDA and the Oregon Department of Administration knew of the recall when the company announced it. The now-recalled frozen products were shipped frozen on common carriers.
The recall announcement stated all recalled products indicate batch lot number 22821 on the back labels. The recall indicates the products included as follows: Aqua Nova Sliced Nova Lox (3 oz. and 1 lb. packages), Aqua Nova Premium Oregon Nova Lox (both sliced and unsliced), North Coast Traditional Nova Lox, North Coast Smoked Salmon Trim (3 lb. packages), and Tony’s Smoked Salmon Lox (8 oz. packages). The company’s recall notice specified no “best by” dates.
About Listeria Infection
Often, food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes does not look, smell, or otherwise appear spoiled. Further, symptoms can take up to 70 days after exposure to appear. Those symptoms include neck stiffness, vomiting, severe headaches, nausea, muscle aches, and persistent fevers. Listeriosis often mimics other illnesses, and requires very specific laboratory tests to diagnose.
Groups including pregnant women, newborn babies, people above the age of 65, and people with weakened immune systems are more susceptible to infection. Pregnant women often only experience mild flu-like symptoms; however, infection can cause premature delivery, stillbirth, and infection in the newborn baby.