HHS NEWS

P97-25                         FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE          Arthur Whitmore: (202) 205-4144

August 5, 1997                 

                                Consumer Holine: (800) 532-4440   

                                                                  

                          



     FDA WARNS PUBLIC AGAINST ROYAL LINE SMOKED SALMON

     The Food and Drug Administration is warning consumers not to

purchase or eat Royal Line brand of smoked salmon because the

product may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, an

organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infection in

small children, frail or elderly people, and people with weakened

immune systems.  Listeria infection also may cause miscarriages

and stillbirths in pregnant women.

     The salmon is imported from Denmark and is labeled Royal

Line brand Smoked Salmon, Faroe Islands.  Packaging does not

carry a product code.  It is sold presliced, skinless and

boneless in 2.5 pound heat-sealed vacuum plastic bags.  

     The salmon was imported by Marine Marketing Intl. Inc., of

Boca Raton, Fla.  The importer has initiated its own recall of

the product and has ceased importing it from the Danish

processor.  The scope of distribution of the product is uncertain

however, because the sole distributor of the product, Marcos

Marketing Innovations Co. of Marietta, Ga., has refused to

cooperate in providing information or recalling the salmon.  

Marcos Marketing has indicated preliminarily that the product 

was sold to Jewish temples in the Los Angeles, Calif., area for

fundraising events.  It is possible,  however, that product was

distributed elsewhere in the United States.

     The recall of the salmon was initiated as a result of

routine FDA sampling of imports.  No illnesses have been reported

to date.

     Symptoms of listeria infection include high fever, severe

headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea.

                                                                

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