The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has issued an urgent nationwide product recall for several batches of Haifa Smoked Fish products, alerting British consumers to a potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination.
The affected items, sold across various UK supermarkets and independent retailers, include specific batches of Haifa Hot Smoked Salmon Trimmings and Haifa Hot Smoked Trout Fillets. Consumers are being urged to immediately check their refrigerators for the following products:
- Haifa Hot Smoked Salmon Trimmings (200g) with a use-by date of 28 November 2024
- Haifa Hot Smoked Trout Fillets (200g) with a use-by date of 28 November 2024
What is Listeria and Why is it Dangerous?
Listeria infection, or listeriosis, is a rare but potentially life-threatening form of food poisoning. While it typically causes mild flu-like symptoms in healthy adults, it poses a severe risk to pregnant women, the elderly, and individuals with weakened immune systems. In severe cases, it can lead to meningitis or septicaemia.
Official Advice from the Food Standards Agency
The FSA's official notice states: "Haifa is recalling the above products. Point-of-sale notices will be displayed in all retail stores that are selling this product. These notices explain to customers why the products are being recalled and tell them what to do if they have bought the product."
Customers who have purchased any of the affected batches are advised to:
- Not consume the product
- Return it to the store from which it was purchased for a full refund
- Contact Haifa's customer care team with any concerns
No other Haifa products or batches are known to be affected by this recall. The company and food safety authorities are investigating the source of the contamination to prevent further distribution.
