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The FDA warned consumers against eating cold smoked sprats sold by Haifa Smoked Fish after an inspection found required controls against Clostridium botulinum were not in place. The agency said D&M Smoked Fish Inc., which does business as Haifa Smoked Fish Inc., declined its recommendation to recall the product. Consumers should not rely on smell or appearance to judge whether the fish is safe.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has warned consumers not to eat cold smoked sprats sold by Haifa Smoked Fish Inc. after an inspection found the producer had not put required controls in place to prevent the growth of Clostridium botulinum and formation of its toxin. The agency said D&M Smoked Fish Inc., which does business as Haifa Smoked Fish, declined its recommendation to recall the product, prompting the public warning.
The FDA said it inspected the production facility and found that controls intended to prevent Clostridium botulinum growth and toxin formation were absent. The bacteria can cause botulism, a serious illness. The agency recommended that D&M Smoked Fish recall all of its cold smoked sprats currently on the market, but the company declined, according to the FDA warning described in the October 23 report.
The warning identifies the product as cold smoked sprats sold by Haifa Smoked Fish Inc. and names D&M Smoked Fish Inc. as the company that declined the recall recommendation. The source report gives the company location as Jamaica, New York. It does not provide package sizes, lot codes, distribution dates, or a count of products or stores affected.
The FDA advised retailers, restaurants, wholesalers and food-service customers not to sell or serve the sprats. People unsure whether fish they have came from Haifa Smoked Fish should contact the place where they bought it or their supplier. The warning is based on the production-control findings; the source material does not report confirmed illnesses linked to this product.
Why the Fish Cannot Be Judged by Sight
Botulism is a potentially life-threatening illness, and the FDA says food contaminated with botulism-causing spores may look, smell and taste normal. That means consumers cannot use ordinary sensory checks to decide whether these sprats are safe. The agency’s advice is to avoid eating the product rather than tasting it or relying on its condition.
Foodborne botulism can affect the nerves and, without treatment, may paralyze muscles needed for breathing. The warning also matters to businesses that may have received the fish through wholesale or food-service channels: the FDA says they should not sell or serve it. Because the company declined the recommended recall, the public alert is the agency’s means of communicating the risk described in the report.
The FDA says symptoms commonly begin 18 to 36 hours after eating contaminated food, though onset can range from six hours to 10 days. Symptoms listed in the warning include double or blurred vision, drooping eyelids, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing or breathing, dry mouth, a thick-feeling tongue and muscle weakness. Anyone who ate the product and develops signs of botulism should seek medical attention immediately, according to the agency.
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Inspection Findings Behind the Alert
The warning followed an FDA inspection of the facility where the cold smoked sprats were produced. According to the agency, the inspection found that required controls were not in place to prevent C. botulinum from growing and producing toxin. The report does not describe the specific process failures, inspection dates, or whether the FDA took any additional regulatory action.
The FDA recommended that the company recall all cold smoked sprats still on the market. After the firm declined, the agency issued its public warning. The source report does not give the company’s explanation for declining, nor does it say whether the company has separately removed product from sale or contacted customers.
This alert is distinct from a company-initiated recall: the reported development is an FDA warning following a declined recall recommendation. Consumers who cannot establish the product’s source are advised to ask their retailer or supplier. The available report does not identify a specific national distribution area or provide label details to help distinguish affected packages.
“Food contaminated with the spores that cause botulism poisoning does not look, smell or taste bad.”
— The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, as reported by Food Safety News
Product Scope and Company Response
The source material does not specify lot numbers, package identifiers, sell-by dates, quantities, or distribution locations. It also does not say how many products remain in commerce, whether any retailers have removed them, or whether consumers have reported illnesses associated with the sprats. The report provides no direct statement from D&M Smoked Fish or Haifa Smoked Fish explaining why the company declined the FDA’s recommendation.
The FDA’s finding that preventive controls were missing is reported, but the available material does not describe the inspection record in detail or state whether the agency has confirmed contamination in any particular package. The absence of reported cases in this source should not be read as evidence that the product is safe. Consumers uncertain about the product’s origin should contact the seller or supplier, as the FDA advises.
Steps for Consumers and Sellers
Consumers should not eat the cold smoked sprats if they are identified as sold by Haifa Smoked Fish. If the source is uncertain, they should check with the retailer or supplier rather than tasting the fish. Retailers, restaurants, wholesalers and food-service operators should keep the product off menus and shelves, following the FDA’s warning.
Anyone who has eaten the product and develops possible botulism symptoms should seek medical attention immediately. The source report does not give a date for further FDA action or say whether the company may later reconsider a recall. Readers should look for any subsequent agency or company notices for product identifiers, distribution details or changes in the product’s status.
Key Questions
Which product is covered by the FDA warning?
The warning concerns cold smoked sprats sold by Haifa Smoked Fish Inc. The report does not provide package sizes, lot numbers or other label identifiers.
Why did the FDA issue a warning?
The FDA said an inspection found that required controls to prevent Clostridium botulinum growth and toxin formation were not in place. The company declined the agency’s recommendation to recall the sprats, according to the report.
Can I tell whether the fish is unsafe by smelling it?
No. The FDA warns that food contaminated with botulism-causing spores may look, smell and taste normal. Do not taste the product to check it; ask the seller or supplier if you are unsure whether it came from Haifa Smoked Fish.
What symptoms should prompt urgent medical care?
Possible symptoms include double or blurred vision, drooping eyelids, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing or breathing, dry mouth and muscle weakness. The FDA says anyone who ate the product and develops signs of botulism should seek medical attention immediately.
Has the company issued a recall?
The report says the FDA recommended a recall of all cold smoked sprats currently on the market and that D&M Smoked Fish Inc. declined. It does not report a company-issued recall or provide a later update on the product’s status.
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