Tuna Recall / USA

SCOMBROID POISONING, GROUND TUNA - USA: RECALL, ALERT


*****************************************************

A ProMED-mail post



ProMED-mail is a program of the

International Society for Infectious Diseases





Date: 12 Oct 2011

Source: FDA [edited]







Osamu Corporation of Gardena, California, is recalling up to 1800

cases, lot number7013, of frozen ground tuna because the FDA found

decomposition in several samples of the product and also found

elevated histamine levels in samples taken from a retail location.

Osamu Corporation is recalling the product in an abundance of caution

since decomposed product may promote formation of histamine. Histamine

consumed in food can cause reactions that exhibit symptoms of tingling

or burning sensation in the mouth, facial swelling, rash, hives and

itchy skin, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea. However, individuals may

experience symptoms differently. Persons developing these symptoms

should seek medical attention.



The frozen ground tuna was shipped to 3 distributors from 18 Aug 2011

to 8 Sep 2011. The distributors have removed the product from the

marketplace and are destroying any remaining product.



The 3 distributors are AFC Corporation, Red Shell Foods, and Pacific

Fresh Fish Company. 2 of these distributors have sushi franchises

located in grocery stores. Stores and locations to which this product

was shipped are listed at the bottom of this announcement. One,

Pacific Fresh Fish Company of Los Angeles, is a cash and carry

establishment.



Consumers concerned about whether the sushi they purchased may contain

the ground tuna should check with the store where they purchased the

sushi. That store will be able to determine if it used the recalled

product to prepare the sushi. At this time Osamu does not believe that

the recalled product or sushi made with the recalled product is

available for purchase by consumers.



3 illnesses due to elevated histamine levels have been reported to

date, all involving sushi purchased at a single location. The cause of

the elevated histamine levels found in the ground tuna at that

location is presently unknown.



Red Shell Foods has sushi franchises in grocery markets in the state

of California in the following cities: Calabasas, Century City, Dana

Point, Encino, Hollywood, Irvine, Los Angeles, Marina del Rey, Newport

Beach, North Hollywood, Northridge, Pacific Palisades, Pasadena, Santa

Barbara, Sherman Oaks, Silverlake, Tarzana, West Hollywood, and

Westlake Village.



AFC has sushi franchises at counters in grocery stores in nearly every

state.



--

Communicated by:

ProMED-mail





[Scombroid fish poisoning occurs after eating fish with high levels of

accumulated histamine or other biogenic amines. Histamine is produced

and can accumulate when bacterial enzymes metabolize naturally

occurring histidine in fish. This most often occurs when fish is held

at ambient or high temperatures (such as 70 to 90 deg F / 21.1 to 32.2

deg C) for several hours, but can occur at more moderate temperatures

(over 45 deg F or over 7.2 deg C). Rapid chilling of fish immediately

after catch is the most effective measure to prevent scombroid fish

poisoning. Fish from the family _Scombridae_ (such as tuna and

mackerel) contain high levels of free histidine in muscle tissue and

are the commonest sources of scombroid fish poisoning, but other fish

(such as mahi mahi, amberjack, bluefish, abalone, and sardines) also

have been implicated.



The symptoms of scombroid are identical to those of an allergic

reaction since the mediator of both are the same, histamine; but in

scombroid's case, the histamine is externally produced and not

secreted by the affected person's mast cells. The symptoms generally

begin 15-60 minutes after ingestion and usually resolves within

several hours. - Mod.LL]



[The interactive HealthMap/ProMED map for California is available at

- CopyEd.EJP]



[see also:

Scombroid poisoning, tuna - Canada: (BC), sandwich chain, alert

20110925.2902

2009

----

Scombroid poisoning, tuna - USA: (New England) 20090706.2427

Scombroid poisoning, tuna - Viet Nam 20090623.2292

Scombroid poisoning, tuna - UK: (Scotland) 20090417.1461

2008

----

Scombroid poisoning, tuna - UK: (Scotland) 20081208.3852

2007

----

Scombroid poisoning, tuna, 2006 - USA (LA, TN) ex Asia 20070820.2714

2005

----

Scombroid poisoning, frozen fish - Israel: recall 20050610.1619

2002

----

Scombroid poisoning, tuna - USA (PA): suspected 20020827.5166]

.................................................ll/ejp/mpp

*##########################################################*

************************************************************

ProMED-mail makes every effort to verify the reports that

are posted, but the accuracy and completeness of the

information, and of any statements or opinions based

thereon, are not guaranteed. The reader assumes all risks in

using information posted or archived by ProMED-mail. ISID

and its associated service providers shall not be held

responsible for errors or omissions or held liable for any

damages incurred as a result of use or reliance upon posted

or archived material.

************************************************************

Donate to ProMED-mail. Details available at:



************************************************************

Visit ProMED-mail's web site at .

Send all items for posting to: promed@promedmail.org (NOT to

an individual moderator). If you do not give your full name

name and affiliation, it may not be posted. You may unsub-

scribe at .

For assistance from a human being, send mail to:

.

############################################################

############################################################