Fish products recalled as a safety precaution

The Swinomish Fish Company has recalled two of its “Native Catch” brand products due to potential contamination with a bacterium that causes botulism.

According to a press release by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Swinomish Fish Company voluntarily recalled both its “Traditional Native Catch Salmon Bacon” and “Peppered Native Catch Salmon Bacon.” The product was sold in Skagit County and was also distributed in Florida.

Brian Genge, CFO of Swino-mish Fish Company said, “The fish was distributed throughout Skagit County.” However, in Florida, “distributors only received samples of our product,” he said. “The samples are not for sale to the public in Florida.”

According to the FDA press release, the two batches of Native Catch Salmon Bacon might have been contaminated with Clostridium botulinum, an organism that causes potentially deadly botulism.

Joanne Lynn, of the Food Safety Program with Skagit County Department of Public Health said there have been no reports of people becoming ill from consuming the recalled fish.

According to the FDA’s press release, “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.”

The possibility of contamina-tion was noted after a routine inspection by the Washington State Department of Agriculture found that the products may have been under processed, according to the FDA.

Specifically recalled were Peppered flavor salmon bacon, with UPC: 7 83583 27965 9, packaged in 8 oz. and 14 oz. clear vacuum bag with “best by” dates 1/23/16 and 3/16/16.

And traditional flavored sal-mon bacon, with UPC: 7 51778 15900 0, packaged in 8 oz. and 14 oz. clear vacuum bags with “best by” dates 1/23/16 and 3/16/16.

The products had been distri-buted between August 10 through December 11.

Stores have already been told to take the affected products off the shelves.

Anyone who has a recalled package should dispose of it or take it back to the store.

Other Native Catch products are not affected.