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The FDA issued a public warning about cold smoked sprats sold by Haifa Smoked Fish after an inspection found required controls to prevent Clostridium botulinum growth and toxin formation were not in place. The company declined the agency’s recommendation to recall the product, and consumers and food businesses are being told not to eat, sell or serve it.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has warned consumers not to eat cold smoked sprats sold by Haifa Smoked Fish Inc. after an inspection found the product was made without controls required to prevent Clostridium botulinum growth and toxin formation. The FDA said the company, D&M Smoked Fish Inc. doing business as Haifa Smoked Fish, declined the agency’s recommendation to recall the sprats, prompting the public alert.
The FDA’s inspection of the production facility found that controls were not in place to prevent Clostridium botulinum from growing and producing toxin in the cold smoked fish, according to the agency’s warning. The bacterium can cause botulism, a serious illness. The source report identifies the company as located in Jamaica, New York.
The FDA recommended that D&M Smoked Fish recall all of its cold smoked sprats currently on the market. After the company declined, the agency issued its warning to alert consumers to the potential botulism risk. The warning does not establish that the fish has tested positive for botulinum toxin, or that anyone has become ill.
The agency advises retailers, restaurants, wholesalers and food-service businesses not to sell or serve cold smoked sprats sold by Haifa Smoked Fish. Consumers who are uncertain about the product’s source should contact the shop where they bought it or their supplier. The report does not provide package identifiers, lot codes, a distribution list or a specific date range for production.
Risks for Consumers and Food Sellers
Botulism is a serious concern because contaminated food may look, smell and taste normal, according to the FDA information reproduced in the report. Consumers cannot reliably judge safety by checking the fish’s appearance or flavor. The agency’s advice is to avoid the identified product rather than taste it to assess whether it is safe.
Foodborne botulism can affect the nerves and lead to muscle paralysis. The report says that, if untreated, paralysis can involve muscles needed for breathing and may result in death. The warning therefore affects not only people who may have bought the sprats, but also businesses handling or serving them, which are instructed not to distribute or offer the product.
Anyone who has eaten the sprats and develops symptoms should seek medical attention immediately. Reported symptoms can include double or blurred vision, drooping eyelids, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing or breathing, dry mouth, a thick-feeling tongue and muscle weakness. Symptoms do not all have to occur together, and the reported onset window is broad: generally 18 to 36 hours after eating contaminated food, but as soon as six hours or as late as 10 days.
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Inspection Led to Public Warning
The warning followed an FDA inspection of the facility where the cold smoked sprats were produced. The agency’s stated concern was the absence of required controls intended to prevent Clostridium botulinum growth and toxin formation. The report does not describe the specific production steps or controls that were missing.
The agency recommended a recall, but the company declined, according to the report. The FDA then issued a public warning so consumers and food businesses could take precautions despite the absence of a company recall. The report attributes the product to D&M Smoked Fish Inc., doing business as Haifa Smoked Fish Inc.
The available source material describes a potential food-safety risk based on the inspection findings. It does not say that the sprats were laboratory-confirmed to contain toxin, identify any diagnosed cases, or provide details about how many packages were distributed. Those limits matter when distinguishing the documented lack of production controls from proof of contamination or illness.
“The company has refused to recall the item.”
— U.S. Food and Drug Administration, as reported by Food Safety News
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Product Scope and Illness Reports
The published report does not specify package labels, lot numbers, production dates, quantities or distribution locations, so consumers may need to ask retailers or suppliers whether a product came from Haifa Smoked Fish. It also does not state whether the FDA or another authority detected botulinum toxin in a sample, or whether any illnesses have been reported. The documented concern is that required preventive controls were absent and the product may pose a risk; confirmed contamination and confirmed cases are not reported in the source material.
The source does not provide a response from the company explaining why it declined the recall recommendation, or indicate whether the FDA has taken further enforcement steps. The scope of any product still on sale is also not given.
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Check Sources and Seek Care
Consumers who have the cold smoked sprats should not eat them and should contact the retailer or supplier if they are unsure whether the product came from Haifa Smoked Fish. Retailers and food-service operators should follow the FDA warning not to sell or serve the sprats. The report does not specify disposal instructions or describe a replacement, refund or return process, so customers should ask the seller for guidance.
Anyone who ate the product and develops possible botulism symptoms should seek medical attention immediately, rather than waiting for symptoms to worsen. Further updates would be needed to clarify product identifiers, distribution, any illness reports and whether the company or regulators take additional action.
Key Questions
Which fish product is covered by the FDA warning?
The warning concerns cold smoked sprats sold by Haifa Smoked Fish Inc., a trade name used by D&M Smoked Fish Inc. The source report does not list package or lot identifiers.
Why did the FDA issue a warning?
The FDA said an inspection found that required controls to prevent Clostridium botulinum growth and toxin formation were not in place. The company declined the agency’s recommendation to recall the product.
Can I tell whether the fish is contaminated by its smell or appearance?
No. The FDA information cited in the report says food contaminated with botulism-causing spores may look, smell and taste normal. Do not taste the fish to check its safety.
What should I do if I ate the sprats?
Seek medical attention immediately if you develop possible botulism symptoms, such as blurred or double vision, drooping eyelids, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing or breathing, or muscle weakness. The reported onset can range from six hours to 10 days after eating contaminated food.
Has contamination or illness been confirmed?
The source report describes a potential risk based on missing production controls. It does not report confirmed toxin in the fish, diagnosed illnesses, or the number of products distributed.
Source: rss
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