Nationwide Fish Recall as Consumer Warning Issued
A New York-based company has issued a nationwide recall for a fish product because it was found to be uneviscerated, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced.
Krasnyi Oktyabr Inc. USA issued a voluntary recall for its Aral Silver Vobla fish on July 15, the FDA said. The product is sold at retail stores nationwide and comes in clear plastic vacuum-packaged bags with a blue label.
Why It Matters
Uneviscerated fish—those that have not been fully gutted—have been linked to outbreaks of botulism, according to the FDA. The bacteria Clostridium botulinum are more likely to be concentrated in the viscera than in any other part of a fish.
The FDA warns that botulism is a rare but serious illness that can cause difficult breathing, muscle paralysis and even death. Common symptoms include difficulty swallowing, muscle weakness, double vision, drooping eyelids, blurry vision, slurred speech, difficulty breathing and difficulty moving the eyes.
Other symptoms in foodborne botulism can include vomiting, nausea, stomach pain and diarrhea.
Stock image of fish for sale.
Aaron M. Sprecher/AP
What To Know
The product impacted by the recall is Dry Salted Vobla Aral Silver, according to the FDA. Each package contains two whole fish and has a label stating: “Product of Kazakhstan.”
The recall was initiated after routine testing by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, and subsequent analysis by the NYS Food Laboratory revealed that the product had not been fully eviscerated before processing, the recall notice said.
As of July 15, no illnesses had been reported in connection with the consumption of the product.
What People Are Saying
Krasnyi Oktyabr Inc. USA told Newsweek in a statement: “This is absolutely not true. We gave our fish to an independent laboratory and received an official answer that the fish is clean. We provided all the documents to FDA.”
The FDA, on its website: “The bacteria that make botulinum toxin are found naturally in many places, but it’s rare for them to make people sick. These bacteria make spores, which act like protective coatings. Spores help the bacteria survive in the environment, even in extreme conditions.
“The spores usually do not cause people to become sick, even when they’re eaten. But under certain conditions, these spores can grow and make one of the most lethal toxins known.”
It adds: “For example, improperly home-canned, preserved, or fermented foods can provide the right conditions for spores to grow and make botulinum toxin. When people eat these foods, they can become seriously ill, or even die, if they don’t get proper medical treatment quickly.”
The World Health Organization, on its website: “Foodborne botulism is a serious, potentially fatal disease. However, it is relatively rare. It is an intoxication usually caused by ingestion of potent neurotoxins, the botulinum toxins, formed in contaminated foods. Person to person transmission of botulism does not occur.”
What Happens Next
The recall is ongoing. People who experience symptoms matching those of botulism should seek medical attention immediately.
Consumers who have purchased the affected product should not eat it, and are urged to return it to its place of purchase for a full refund.
Updated 15.20 p.m. ET 16/07/2025: This article was updated with a statement from Krasnyi Oktyabr Inc. USA.
https://www.newsweek.com/fish-recall-fda-consumer-warning-krasnyi-oktyabr-inc-usa-2099645
