Bornstein Seafoods has issued a major recall of nearly 45,000 pounds of its ready-to-eat shrimp after concerns arose that some of the product may be contaminated with listeria, a potentially dangerous foodborne bacteria.
The recall affects one-pound and five-pound bags of cooked, peeled shrimp that were distributed and sold in retail outlets across California, Oregon, Washington, and the Canadian province of British Columbia. According to the company, the shrimp were marketed as ready-to-eat, which means they were intended to be consumed without further cooking—a factor that heightens the risk if contamination is present.
Listeria monocytogenes, the bacteria in question, is known to cause listeriosis, a serious infection that can be especially harmful to young children, the elderly, pregnant women, and individuals with weakened immune systems. Symptoms of listeriosis can include fever, muscle aches, nausea, and diarrhea. In severe cases, the infection can spread beyond the gastrointestinal tract to the nervous system, potentially resulting in headaches, confusion, loss of balance, or convulsions. In pregnant women, listeriosis may lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, or life-threatening infection of the newborn.
While no illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this batch of shrimp, Bornstein Seafoods stated that it initiated the recall out of an abundance of caution after internal testing flagged possible contamination. The company has notified health agencies in both the U.S. and Canada and is cooperating fully with regulatory authorities to ensure that affected products are swiftly removed from store shelves.
Consumers who have purchased any of the recalled shrimp are advised not to consume the product. The safest course of action is to discard the shrimp or return it to the place of purchase for a refund. Retailers have been instructed to pull the affected product from inventory and to thoroughly clean any surfaces or equipment that may have come into contact with the recalled shrimp.
The presence of listeria in food products remains a serious concern for public health officials, as the bacteria can survive and even grow at refrigerator temperatures. Proper handling and thorough cooking typically reduce the risk of listeriosis, but ready-to-eat products like the shrimp in question bypass the final step of home cooking, making product safety at the production level all the more critical.
Bornstein Seafoods, headquartered in Bellingham, Washington, has a long history in the seafood industry, providing a wide range of products to markets in the Pacific Northwest and beyond. The company said it is taking additional steps to review its processing and testing protocols to help prevent future incidents.
Regulatory agencies in both the United States and Canada are continuing to monitor the situation. In the meantime, consumers are encouraged to stay alert for updates regarding the recall and to exercise caution with any shrimp products purchased from the affected regions.
For more detailed information on the specific product codes and lot numbers involved in this recall, consumers are urged to visit the company’s website or consult public notices issued by their local health departments.