Shrimp recall expanded following reopened Salmonella probeShrimp recall expanded following reopened Salmonella probe

Josh Long, Associate editorial director, SupplySide Supplement Journal

August 20, 2021

2 Min Read
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Avanti Frozen Foods Pvt. Ltd recently expanded a prior recall of frozen shrimp products after authorities identified additional cases in a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Weltevreden infections.

The expanded recall announced Aug. 13 covers certain consignments of various sizes of frozen cooked, peeled, deveined shrimp, some of which was packaged with cocktail sauce.

On June 25, India-based Avanti Frozen Foods recalled certain shrimp products imported into the U.S. from December 2020 to February 2021—due to the potential for Salmonella contamination—that were distributed nationwide.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported the Salmonella outbreak has been associated with nine illnesses, including three hospitalizations, in four states: Arizona (2), Michigan (2), Nevada (4) and Rhode Island (1).

CDC announced July 21 that the outbreak was over, but FDA said authorities subsequently identified additional cases in the outbreak, including one ill person who consumed shrimp that was not a part of the initial recall. FDA said the investigation was reopened, and it asked Avanti Frozen Foods to expand its recall.

Avanti Frozen Foods said it was expanding the recall “out of an abundance of precaution,” covering a large quantity of product that has not been linked with any illness. The move was commenced following talks with FDA and CDC, reflecting “Avanti’s commitment to public health and safety,” according to the firm’s recall notice.

The expanded recall covers various brands, including Ahold, Big River, Censea, 365, First Street, Meijer and Seacove, among others.

FDA identified the potential for Salmonella contamination after testing shrimp imported by Avanti Frozen Foods. In January, FDA collected a sample of the firm’s shrimp as part of a compliance program, revealing the presence of Salmonella Weltevreden, according to FDA in its investigation of the outbreak.

At the time, FDA was unaware of known illnesses associated with the shrimp. But in April, “three clinical isolates collected from ill people were reported to be closely related to the isolates collected from the import sample,” FDA stated in its investigation. Several people who fell ill reported eating shrimp, the agency noted.

Most individuals infected with Salmonella develop abdominal cramps, diarrhea and fever, although some cases result in death, according to FDA.

CDC estimates Salmonella bacteria cause about 1.35 million infections, 26,500 hospitalizations and 420 deaths in the U.S. annually, with food being the source for most of the illnesses. Symptoms usually begin six hours to six days after infection and endure four to seven days, according to CDC.

About the Author

Josh Long

Associate editorial director, SupplySide Supplement Journal, Informa Markets Health and Nutrition

Josh Long directs the online news, feature and op-ed coverage at SupplySide Supplement Journal (formerly known as Natural Products Insider), which targets the health and wellness industry. He has been reporting on developments in the dietary supplement industry for over a decade, with a focus on regulatory issues, including at the Food and Drug Administration.

He has moderated and/or presented at industry trade shows, including SupplySide EastSupplySide WestNatural Products Expo WestNBJ Summit and the annual Dietary Supplement Regulatory Summit.

Connect with Josh on LinkedIn and ping him with story ideas at [email protected]

Education and previous experience

Josh majored in journalism and graduated from Arizona State University the same year "Jake the Snake" Plummer led the Sun Devils to the Rose Bowl against the Ohio State Buckeyes. He also holds a J.D. from the University of Wyoming College of Law, was admitted in 2008 to practice law in the state of Colorado and spent a year clerking for a state district court judge.

Over more than a quarter century, he’s written on various topics for newspapers and business-to-business publications – from the Yavapai in Arizona and a controversial plan for a nuclear-waste incinerator in Idaho to nuanced issues, including FDA enforcement of the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA).

Since the late 1990s, his articles have been published in a variety of media, including but not limited to, the Cape Cod Times (in Massachusetts), Sedona Red Rock News (in Arizona), Denver Post (in Colorado), Casper Star-Tribune (in Wyoming), now-defunct Jackson Hole Guide (in Wyoming), Colorado Lawyer (published by the Colorado Bar Association) and Nutrition Business Journal.

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