CFIA: Lotus Fine Foods Salted & Cured Fish May Contain Dangerous Bacteria

OTTAWA – The public warning issued on April 19, 2012 has been expanded to include additional products.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is warning the public not to consume the salted and cured fish products (fesikh) described below because they may be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum. Toxins produced by this bacteria may cause botulism, a life-threatening illness.

The following vacuum packaged fish products are affected by this alert: whole fesikh mullet and cut up fesikh mullet in oil. These products were sold in packages of varying count and weight, bearing no code or date information.

These products were sold from Lotus Catering and Fine Food, 1960 Lawrence Ave. E, Toronto, ON, on or before April 17, 2012.

There have been 3 reported illnesses associated with the consumption of this product.

Food contaminated with Clostridium botulinum toxin may not look or smell spoiled. Consumption of food contaminated with the toxin may cause nausea, vomiting, fatigue, dizziness, headache, double vision, dry throat, respiratory failure and paralysis. In severe cases of illness, people may die.

For more information consumers and industry can call the CFIA at 1-800-442-2342 / TTY 1-800-465-7735 (8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern time, Monday to Friday).

Source: Canadian Food Inspection Agency