Jose Madrid Salsa of Zanesville, OH, has recalled its mild salsa because the jars are not properly sealed and therefore present a health risk. Improperly sealed jars can lead to product spoilage or contamination by the bacteria that cause botulism.

Jose Madrid salsa jar lids may have been convex instead of vacuum sealed, according to the company. Compromised seals or seams could result in product contamination by spoilage organisms or pathogens and may lead to illness if consumed. These jars were distributed in the Zanesville and Baltimore, MD, areas.

Approximately 96 jars of product sold are involved in this recall. Individual jars will show product lot code:

601 0101
04/20/16

There have been no reports to date of any illness associated with these products.

The New York Department of Agriculture today warned consumers not to eat “Dry Bream-lesh (fish)” sold by Tatuka Inc. of Brooklyn, NY, and distributed by Royal Sweet Bakery, also of Brooklyn, because the product was found to be uneviscerated.

The “Dry Bream-lesh (fish)” was sold from retail stores to consumers in the NYC metro area. The product was packaged in a clear, vacuum-packed, flexible plastic pouch and offered for sale at refrigerated temperatures. The product is coded with a “Best before: 01:08:2015” date and is a product of Russia.

Uneviscerated processed fish is prohibited under New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets’ regulations because Clostridium botulinum spores are more likely to be concentrated in the viscera than any other portion of the fish.

Because this fish product is uneviscerated, the product may be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum spores, which can cause botulism, a serious and potentially fatal foodborne illness. Symptoms of botulism include blurred or double vision, general weakness, poor reflexes, difficulty swallowing, and respiratory paralysis.

The “dry bream-lesh (fish)” was found by New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets food inspectors during a routine inspection of the retail firm. Subsequent analysis by New York State Food Laboratory personnel confirmed the product to be uneviscerated.

No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with the product. Consumers who have this product are advised not to eat it.

Moscahlades Bros Inc. of Paterson, NJ is recalling Hellas Golden Double Smoked Herring because it has the potential to be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum, a bacterium which can cause life­ threatening illness or death. Consumers are warned not to use the product even if it does not look or smell spoiled.

Botulism, a potentially fatal form of food poisoning, can cause the following symptoms: general weakness, dizziness, double-vision and trouble with speaking or swallowing. Difficulty in breathing, weakness of other muscles, abdominal distension and constipation may also be common symptoms. People experiencing these problems should seek immediate medical attention.

Hellas Golden Double Smoked Herring was distributed to IL, MD, MI, MA, NC, NY, and NJ. The product was sold in retail stores.

The product is in vacuum pack clear plastic packaging with a white label. The brand name is HELLAS from KARAGOUNIS BROS SA and imported by MOSCAHLADES BROS INC. There are two lots. LOT# L180314F33, Production date 18/3/14, Best Before 18/3/15, shipped March 2014. The second lot production date is 14/10/2014, Best Before 14/10/2015, Lot# L141014F33 shipped October 2014.

No illnesses have been reported to date.

During a routine inspection by FDA of Karagounis Bros SA in Greece it was discovered the herring was uneviscerated.

Arcadia Trading Inc. is recalling all packages of Red Thread Fish due to a risk of botulism.

The product comes in a 7 oz. heat sealed plastic bag.

The recalled Red Thread Fish was distributed nationwide in supermarkets, according to officials.

Consumers are warned not to use the product even if it does not look or smell spoiled.

The potential for contamination was noted by New York State Department of Agriculture inspectors during a routine inspection.

Uneviscerated fish have been linked to outbreaks of botulism poisoning.

Symptoms of botulism poisoning include blurred or double vision, general weakness, poor reflexes, difficulty swallowing, and respiratory paralysis.

No illnesses have been reported in connection with this problem.

Vancouver Coastal Health is sending out a warning to anyone who may have purchased Bruno’s Best ready-to-eat seafood products. The health authority says the four varieties of seafood may contain botulism.

The products were sold at three Vancouver store locations of Finest at Sea’s, including its Granville Island store, between June 1 and Oct. 7 this year.

Customers are being advised to throw out the products or return them to the stores.

Inspectors discovered that the canned tuna, octopus, smoked sardines and smoked Pacific oysters weren’t processed using validated methods consistent with food safety standards, and could potentially be toxic.

Botulism in food or drink is a rare, but potentially life-threatening illness and contaminated food may not look or smell spoiled.

California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Director and State Health Officer Dr. Ron Chapman warned consumers today not to eat Williams-Sonoma Pumpkin Seed Pesto sauce because it may have been improperly produced, making it susceptible to contamination with Clostridium botulinum.

Ingestion of botulism toxin from improperly processed jarred and canned foods may lead to serious illness and death.

The manufacturer of the product, California Olive and Vine, LLC, of Sutter, California, initiated the voluntary recall after CDPH determined that the product had been improperly processed. The product was packaged in eight ounce glass jars with screw-on metal lids. The recalled product can be identified by the following stock keeping unit (SKU) numbers: 6404305 and 6389043. Photographs of the affected product package are located on the Recalled Product Photo Page. The Williams-Sonoma Pumpkin Seed Pesto has been sold nationwide at Williams-Sonoma retail stores since September 2014.

The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is warning consumers not to eat any canned soups or sauces made by Corfinio Foods of Richmond, VA, because they were improperly processed and therefore susceptible to contamination with Clostridium botulinum.

Ingestion of botulism toxin from improperly processed jarred and canned foods may lead to serious illness and death. Although there have been no reported cases of illness associated with these products, the department stated that it was issuing a consumer warning so that people who have previously purchased the products do not consume them.

According to Virginia food safety officials, Corfinio Foods has already suspended production of all of its canned soups and sauces, and the firm is currently working to come into compliance with state requirements.

The soups and sauces are packaged in glass, Mason-style jars with metal, screw-on lids and have been sold at the Brandermill Green Market in Midlothian, VA. The jars are marked with the Corfinio Foods label.

Brie Zeitner of the Plain Dealer reports that two people in Ohio have been hospitalized with botulism that public health officials suspect is connected to a nationwide recall of VR Green Farms’ jarred sauces.

The two Ohio patients, both Cincinnati residents in their 20’s, were each on ventilators at one point but are improving, according to the Cincinnati Health Department. One patient is still on a ventilator and was transferred last week to an acute long-term care facility, Dr. Steven Englender, director of the department’s Center for Public Health Preparedness said in an email. The other patient is breathing unassisted and “may have been discharged by now,” he said.

Preliminary testing by the Cincinnati Health Department found evidence of Clostridium botulinum type B in a meal of pasta that contained the recalled pesto sauce. The lab is still awaiting confirmation of those results.

VR Green Farms of San Clemente, CA, is voluntarily recalling a variety of its jarred food products because they may have been improperly produced, therefore making them susceptible to contamination by Clostridium botulinum.

The recalled products include Pine Nut Basil Pesto, Pickled Farm Mix, Old World Tomato Sauce, Sundried Tomatoes in Olive Oil, Tuscan Grilling Sauce and Pasta Sauce. Photographs of these products can be found here. The products were sold at the VR Green Farms stand in San Clemente, CA, and via the Internet to consumers throughout the United States.