Salmon & Cheese Spread Contaminated
The Georgia Department of Agriculture's Commissioner of Agriculture, Tommy Irving has announced that food scientists have found Listeria monocytogenes in a sample of Bright Water Smoked Salmon & Cheese Spread.
The spread, manufactured by Bright Water Seafoods, LLC, of Charlotte, N. C., 28217, found contamination in a seven-ounce package marked BEST BY 060608. The UPC code is 1971100073.
Consumption of food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, an uncommon but potentially serious disease. The most common manifestation of listeriosis is meningitis, which has symptoms of high fever, neck stiffness, nausea, and severe headache.
Listeriosis can also cause miscarriages and stillbirths, as well as serious and sometimes fatal infections to infants, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems (i.e. persons taking chemotherapy for cancer and those with chronic diseases).
Commissioner Irvin stated, "We have notified the U. S. Food and Drug Administration of today's lab findings, and we are warning the public about the contamination."
"We discovered this contamination as part of our sampling program. Sampling on a regular basis with a scientific protocol is a very important part of our food safety program."
