National frozen shrimp recall expands due to salmonella concerns

A major recall of frozen shrimp – sold to grocers such as Whole Foods, Meijer and Food Lion – has been extended following several reports of “salmonella-related illness,” according to federal health officials.

Avanti Frozen Foods has voluntarily extended its recall, initially issued at the end of June, to include “various sizes of cooked, shelled, deveined frozen products (some of which are packaged with cocktail sauce)” which were distributed nationally from November 2020 through May 2021, according to the notice posted on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration website.

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Frozen shrimp products may be contaminated with salmonella, and the recall was “initiated as a precaution”, according to the recall notice.

The recall “will cover a large quantity of products which have not been associated with any disease but which were initiated following discussions with the FDA and CDC and reflects Avanti’s commitment to public health and safety” , the company said in a statement.

Even though the company says it is extending the recall as a precaution, there have already been nine reports of illnesses linked to frozen shrimp products.

However, Avanti says it has “taken several preventive measures and initiatives to eliminate the potential for future contaminations.”

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Symptoms of salmonella can include fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. However, the body can cause “serious and sometimes fatal infections” in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems, according to the recall.

The company’s initial recall – also issued out of caution – covered certain frozen shrimp products that were distributed nationwide from late December 2020 to late February 2021 after six cases of illness were reported.

“The potential for contamination was identified by the FDA based on its previous testing on frozen cooked shrimp imported by Avanti Frozen Foods that contained Salmonella,read the June recall notice.

At the time, Avanti said it “had not distributed and destroyed this earlier shipment deemed non-compliant.”