Shining Sea Fish Co., Detroit, Michigan, is recalling catch weight packages of “Ma Cohen’s Kippered Herring” smoked fish. This product consists of gutted fish longer than 5 inches and may be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum, the bacteria that causes botulism.
Consumers are warned not to use the product even if it is not spoiled or has no odor.
The recalled “Ma Cohens Kippered Herring” was distributed to retail grocery stores throughout MI, MN and ND.
The product is packaged in a transparent plastic package, and a foil label with the product name, information, and LOT number is attached to the back of the package. The expiration date is printed on the back of the package or on a sticker added by the store along with the catch weight.
The following products are subject to this recall: LOT 25079 expiration date May 3, 2026, LOT 25055 expiration date May 12, 2026, LOT 25028 expiration date June 3, 2026, LOT 26344 expiration date July 22, 2026
To date, no illnesses related to this problem have been reported.
Possible contamination was noted after routine testing conducted by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture revealed that the product had not been completely cleared.
This product has been permanently discontinued.
About botulism
Consuming unprocessed foods can cause a variety of diseases, but one of the most dangerous is botulism. If left untreated, botulism can paralyze the muscles needed for breathing, leading to sudden death.
People who have eaten the recalled food product If you notice signs of botulism, you should seek immediate medical attention.
For foodborne botulism, symptoms usually begin 18 to 36 hours after eating contaminated food. However, symptoms may begin as early as 6 hours later or up to 10 days later.
Symptoms of botulism can all include double vision, blurred vision, drooping eyelids, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing, difficulty breathing, a feeling of thickening in the tongue, dry mouth, and muscle weakness. People with botulism may not have all of these symptoms at once.
If left untreated, the disease progresses and symptoms worsen, sometimes leading to paralysis of the muscles used for breathing and certain muscles in the arms, legs, and body parts from the neck to the pelvis.
