Food alert on smoked salmon

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) today (July 11) advised people not to eat a batch of"Wild Alaskan Smoked Salmon Nova Lox"(3-oz) that might have been contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The CFS also appealed to the trade to stop selling the concerned product.

"The alert followed the detection of Listeria monocytogenes in samples of the above smoked salmon product by relevant authorities in the United States. The company concerned, Salmolux Inc., is recalling the affected products," a CFS spokesman said.

The affected product"Wild Alaskan Smoked Salmon Nova Lox"comes in a 3-oz, blue package with lot number 01418 printed on it.

Symptoms after exposure to Listeria monocytogenes may include fever, headache, vomiting and diarrhoea. Healthy individuals rarely develop symptoms. The effect on pregnant women, newborns, the elderly and people with lowered immunity, however, could be severe, and could include miscarriage and meningitis.

"We have contacted the US authorities for more information. We have also alerted the trade and will closely monitor the situation," the spokesman said.

Ends/Friday, July 11, 2008