A POPULAR product sold in several states has been pulled from stores due to fears of deadly contamination.
The seafood may be laced with listeria, a dangerous bacteria that can kill children, cause miscarriages, and trigger seizures.
Nearly 45,000 pounds of shrimp have been affected, according to an alert from the US Food and Drug Administration.
People with weak immune systems are most at risk for listeriosis, which can lead to fever, muscle aches, stiff neck, confusion, and convulsions.
Pregnant women are also at risk, as listeria can cause a miscarriage or result in premature birth.
Healthy adults, however, will usually suffer from intense stomach issues but ultimately recover.
The frozen bags of ready-to-eat shrimp were sold under the Bornstein Seafoods brand.
The recall traces back to Washington state and Oregon, where a seafood wholesaler has sounded the alarm.
Bornstein is based in Bellingham, Washington, with its main processing facility in Astoria, Oregon.
Officials say the shrimp may have made it to stores in California, Oregon, Washington and even British Columbia.
There’s also a chance the shrimp has been shipped nationwide, the recall notice warned.
Since the shrimp is pre-cooked, -peeled and -frozen, it is a quick and easy dinner staple for many families across the country.
But the convenience of the shrimp may come at a steep health risk.
Listeria monocytogenes was found during routine sampling of the seafood, the company said.
No illnesses have been reported so far, according to the FDA alert which was issued on Tuesday.
Product Recalled
Full list of recalled products and their lot numbers:
- Fzn Shrimp Meat 250/350 Ct 15 X 1 Lb Bag Bsi Msc; A19008
- Fzn Shrimp Meat 250/350 Ct 4 X 5 Lb Bag Bsi Msc; A19009
- Fzn Shrimp Meat 250/350 Ct 4 X 5 Lb Bag Bsi Msc; P11710
- Fzn Shrimp Meat 350/500 Ct 15 X 1 Lb Bag Bsi Msc; A19009
- Fzn Shrimp Meat 350/500 Ct 15 X 1 Lb Bag Bsi Msc; A19019
- Fzn Shrimp Meat 350/500 Ct 15 X 1 Lb Bag Bsi Msc; A19026
- Fzn Shrimp Meat 350/500 Ct 15 X 1 Lb Bag Bsi Msc; A19030
- Fzn Shrimp Meat 350/500 Ct 15 X 1 Lb Bag Bsi Msc; A19032
- Fzn Shrimp Meat 350/500 Ct 15 X 1 Lb Bag Bsi Msc; A19037
- Fzn Shrimp Meat 350/500 Ct 15 X 1 Lb Bag Bsi Msc; A19039
- Fzn Shrimp Meat 350/500 Ct 4 X 5 Lb Bag Bsi Msc; A18989
- Fzn Shrimp Meat 350/500 Ct 4 X 5 Lb Bag Bsi Msc; A19006
- Fzn Shrimp Meat 350/500 Ct 4 X 5 Lb Bag Bsi Msc; A19007
- Fzn Shrimp Meat 350/500 Ct 4 X 5 Lb Bag Bsi Msc; P11709
- Fzn Shrimp Meat 350/500 Ct 4 X 5 Lb Bag Bsi Msc; P11710
The affected product comes in 1- and 5-pound plastic bags labeled as Cooked & Peeled Ready-To-Eat Coldwater Shrimp Meat.
Buyers can check for the universal product code 614133200246 printed on packaging.
Lot numbers are printed on the bottom back of each bag.
Shoppers who bought the contaminated shrimp have been urged not to eat it and take the risk.
Instead, they are urged to return the product to the store where they purchased it for a full refund.
Bornstein didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment by The U.S. Sun.
Per the company website, their stock of cold water shrimp has completely sold out, likely due to the recall.
Bornstein has prided itself on being one of the largest producers of shrimp in the world.
“Our unmatched product quality and consistency are the results of our ongoing investment in state-of-the-art production facilities and equipment,” the website states.
