Press Release 12/06/2006
Contact: Public Affairs (404) 656-3689
Distributed nationally from Brooklyn, NY
Herring packed in Cyrillic-language cans are being recalled due to suspected botulism
A botulism alert on herring packed in uncoded cans in a foreign language is being issued today due to suspected botulism, says Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tommy Irvin.
East Coast Foods Inc., Brooklyn, NY, has issued a voluntary recall of 48 cans of Kaija- brand uneviscerated Herring in Special Brine. Officials there say the fish had not been eviscerated prior to processing.
The canned herring may contain Clostridium botulinum spores, which can cause botulism, a serious and potentially fatal food borne illness.
“This is an important warning for two reasons,” Irvin says. “One: we are dealing with suspected botulism; and two: the product is being sold and distributed in uncoded 1300g metal cans written in Cyrillic (a popular language found in Russia, Central Asia and Eastern Europe). It is important that this alert reach those who know the language and who may consume this herring. The uncoded cans, in a foreign language, are more difficult to track.”
The cans have no English labeling and are sold nationwide.
Symptoms of botulism include blurred or double vision, general weakness and poor reflexes followed by difficulty swallowing and respiratory paralysis.
“Georgians who have this Kaija-brand uneviscerated herring should not eat it. It must be destroyed,” Irvin says.
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