FDA Home Page | Search FDA Site | FDA A-Z Index | Contact FDA

Botulism Risk From Ungutted, Salt-Cured Alewives Fish

FDA is warning retailers and food service operators not to sell ungutted, salt-cured alewives (also called gaspereaux fish) from Michel & Charles LeBlanc Fisheries Ltd., CAP-PELÈ, New Brunswick, Canada.

Consumers should not eat this fish because it may contain Clostridium botulinum (C. botulinum) toxin. This toxin can cause botulism, a serious and sometimes life-threatening illness.

The fish may have been sold in Florida. To date, no illnesses have been reported in connection with this product.

About the Product

FDA considers any ungutted fish over five inches in length that is salt-cured, dried, or smoked, such as the ungutted, salt-cured alewives/gaspereaux fish, to be adulterated because it could contain the C. botulinum toxin. The toxin cannot be removed by cooking or freezing the fish.

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services discovered the ungutted alewives/gaspereaux fish from Michel & Charles LeBlanc Fisheries Ltd. being sold in stores and alerted FDA. The agency prohibits the sale of this product in the United States.

• The fish were packed in 30-pound, white plastic pails with green plastic lids.
• The brand name "Michel & Charles LeBlanc Fisheries Ltd.," appears on the side of the pails, as does the phrase "Product of Canada."
• One hundred and seventy-three (173) 30 lb. pails of fish were distributed.
• The fish may have been repacked or sold loose by retailers in Florida.

The fish were imported into the United States and sent to these Florida distributors:

• Quirch Foods Inc.
• Den-Mar Exports LLC
• Dolphin Fisheries Inc.
• Labrador & Son Food Products Inc.

Steps for Consumers

• If you have purchased ungutted, salt-cured alewives/gaspereaux fish in Florida, contact the place of purchase to determine if the fish originated from Michel & Charles LeBlanc Fisheries Ltd.
• If the fish were from this company or if the source of the fish cannot be determined, immediately discard the fish and any foods made with these fish. 
• Seek immediate medical attention if you experience botulism symptoms and you have recently eaten the fish listed in this warning.

Botulism Symptoms

Symptoms of botulism poisoning can begin from 6 hours to 10 days after eating food that contains the toxin. Symptoms may include

• double vision
• blurred vision
• drooping eyelids
• slurred speech
• difficulty swallowing
• dry mouth
• paralysis of the breathing muscles
• muscle weakness that affects the shoulders and then moves progressively down to the rest of the body

This article appears on FDA's Consumer Health Information Web page (www.fda.gov/consumer), which features the latest updates on FDA-regulated products. Sign up for free e-mail subscriptions at www.fda.gov/consumer/consumerenews.html.

For More Information

FDA Press Release
http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2008/NEW01924.html

Date Posted: December 16, 2008

FDA Consumer Health Information
Consumer Updates archive

FDA Home Page | Search FDA Site | FDA A-Z Index | Contact FDA | Privacy | Accessibility

FDA Website Management Staff