FDA Raises Smoked Salmon Recall to Highest Risk Level Over Listeria: Check Your Freezer
The FDA has raised two Starfish Seafood smoked-fish recalls to Class I, its highest risk level, over possible Listeria contamination. The sliced salmon was sold in six states and the Trio pack in six more. Check the lot numbers, best-before dates and what to do if you bought them.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has raised two Starfish Seafood smoked-fish recalls to Class I, its most serious risk classification, after possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination was found. The recalls were first announced voluntarily in early October 2026, and the Class I classification was recorded on November 3, 2026.
Class I is the FDA's highest risk level. It means there is a reasonable probability that eating the product could cause serious health problems or death. That is why this recall matters even though no illnesses had been reported when the notices were issued — the product is sold frozen, with a best-before date in late 2027, so it may still be sitting in people's freezers.
Which salmon is recalled?
The main recall is Starfish Seafood Premium Cold Smoked Norwegian Salmon Sliced, in a frozen 8-ounce (227g) vacuum-sealed package. Check for these details:
UPC: 4751048940099 | Lot: D080-148 | Best before: November 27, 2027 | Origin: Latvia
It was distributed in six states: New York, Florida, Georgia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Ohio. The distributor is Krasnyi Oktyabr Inc. of Brooklyn, New York, which recalled 86 cases after routine sampling by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets found the possible contamination.
A second product is recalled too
A separate recall covers Starfish Seafood Trio — Cold Smoked Salmon, Halibut and Trout, also in 8-ounce packages. Its details are: Lot D139149161-153, expiration December 1, 2027, distributed in New York, Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts, North Carolina and South Carolina. No illnesses had been reported for either product at the time of the announcements.
The distributor told Newsweek that trace amounts of bacteria were found on plastic packaging that had come into contact with the seafood, rather than in the seafood itself, and said it has added testing and sanitation measures.
What is Listeria, and who is most at risk?
Listeria monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, an infection that is often mild in healthy adults but can be severe — even life-threatening — for pregnant women, people aged 65 and older, and people with weakened immune systems. Unlike many bacteria, Listeria can keep growing at refrigerator temperatures, which is why ready-to-eat cold-smoked fish is watched closely. Symptoms can appear days to weeks after eating contaminated food and can include fever, muscle aches, nausea and diarrhea, and in severe cases stiff neck, confusion and loss of balance.
This is the same pattern behind the site's most-read recall stories: frozen and refrigerated foods with long shelf lives keep reaching new readers for weeks after the recall. Readers who missed the October announcement may still have the product at home, so check the lot number before eating it.
What to do if you bought it
Do not eat the recalled salmon or Trio pack. Return it to the place of purchase for a full refund, or dispose of it safely so nobody eats it by mistake. Clean any fridge or freezer surfaces, utensils and containers that touched it, and watch for symptoms if you already ate some — contact a healthcare professional promptly if you are pregnant, older, immunocompromised, or develop symptoms. Questions can go to Krasnyi Oktyabr Inc. at (718) 858-6720, Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which smoked salmon is recalled?
Starfish Seafood Premium Cold Smoked Norwegian Salmon Sliced, 8 oz frozen vacuum-sealed pack, UPC 4751048940099, lot D080-148, best before November 27, 2027.
Which states sold the recalled salmon?
New York, Florida, Georgia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Ohio. The Starfish Seafood Trio was sold in New York, Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts, North Carolina and South Carolina.
Has anyone fallen ill from this salmon?
No illnesses had been reported at the time the recall notices were issued. The Class I classification reflects the seriousness of Listeria risk, not confirmed illnesses.
What does an FDA Class I recall mean?
It is the FDA's highest risk level, used when there is a reasonable probability that a product will cause serious health problems or death.
References
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