The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has issued an urgent recall for specific batches of K O’Connell Fishmongers Smoked Salmon Slices due to the potential presence of Listeria monocytogenes. Affected products, sold in Dunnes Stores and the English Market in Cork, include 100g, 150g, and 320g packs with batch code SS16726 and a use-by date of 16/07/2026. Consumers are advised to return the items for a full refund without needing a receipt.
Why is Listeria monocytogenes a risk in ready-to-eat foods?
Listeria monocytogenes is a hardy bacterium that thrives in chilled environments, making ready-to-eat products like smoked salmon, deli meats, and soft cheeses particularly vulnerable. Unlike many other pathogens, this bacteria can survive and multiply even at refrigerator temperatures. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), listeriosis is a serious infection typically contracted by consuming contaminated food. While healthy individuals may experience only mild gastrointestinal symptoms, the bacteria can be life-threatening for vulnerable populations, including pregnant women, newborns, the elderly, and those with compromised immune systems.
The incubation period for listeriosis is notably long. While symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and fever often appear within a few days, the onset can take anywhere from three to 70 days, according to health officials.
What should shoppers do if they have purchased affected salmon?
Retailers have been instructed by the FSAI to remove the implicated batches from sale immediately and display recall notices at the point of sale. If you have the K O’Connell Fishmongers Smoked Salmon Slices with batch code SS16726, do not consume the product. Return it to the point of purchase for a full refund. The FSAI confirms that a receipt is not required to process this return. If you have already consumed the product and feel unwell, contact your general practitioner.
How to identify risks in your own kitchen
Food safety experts emphasize that visual inspection is not enough to detect contamination. Listeria does not alter the smell, taste, or appearance of food. To reduce the risk of infection, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends maintaining strict kitchen hygiene. This includes keeping raw fish separate from ready-to-eat foods to prevent cross-contamination and ensuring your refrigerator temperature is consistently set at 5°C or below.
When handling smoked fish, always use clean utensils and wash your hands thoroughly after contact. If you belong to a high-risk group, consider heating ready-to-eat foods until they are steaming hot to kill potential bacteria.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I cook the salmon to make it safe? While cooking food to an internal temperature of 75°C kills Listeria, the FSAI strongly advises returning the product rather than attempting to treat it at home.
- What are the severe symptoms of listeriosis? In severe cases, the bacteria can enter the bloodstream or spread to the central nervous system, potentially causing meningitis.
- Are other fish products affected? This specific recall is limited to the batch code SS16726 of K O’Connell Fishmongers Smoked Salmon Slices.
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