Hyderabad, India-based Avanti Frozen Foods, a subsidiary of Thai Union, is expanding its recall of frozen cooked shrimp sold at major U.S. retailers.
Since late April, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Centers for Disease Control, and state and local agencies have been investigating a multi-state outbreak of Salmonella Weltevreden infections linked to frozen cooked shrimp manufactured by Avanti.
Nine people have become ill from eating the shrimp and three were hospitalized, the FDA said in a press release.
In June, Avanti recalled several lots of the shrimp, including major retail brands such as Safeway’s Waterfront Bistro, Whole Foods’ 365, Censea, Chicken of the Sea, Hannaford, Meijer, Open Acres, Honest Catch, and CWNO.
Since late July, additional cases have been identified in the outbreak and the investigation was reopened.
“At least one ill person consumed shrimp that are not a part of the current recall,” the FDA said in a press release.
At the time, Avanti said in a press release there were six reports of salmonella-related illness associated with the frozen cooked shrimp, which was distributed nationwide from late December 2020 through late February 2021.
“The potential for contamination was identified by FDA based on its prior testing of frozen cooked shrimp imported by Avanti Frozen Foods that was found to contain salmonella,” Avanti said.
However, the company “did not distribute and destroyed that prior shipment found to be violative,” Avanti said.
“The company has taken preventative steps to eliminate the potential for future contamination," it said.
Now, the recall includes frozen cooked shrimp imported into the U.S. from November 2020 to May 2021.
The recalled brands include Ahold, Safeway’s Waterfront Bistro, Censea, Whole Foods Market’s 365, Food Lion, Hannaford, Meijer, Big River, COS, CWNO Brands, First Street, Nature’s Promise, Harbor Banks, HOS, Sand Bar, Sea Cove, BJ’s Wholesale Club’s Wellesley Farms, and WFNO Brands.
Tthe CDC announced the outbreak ended in late July and said recalled shrimp should no longer be available for sale, and the current recall notice is meant as an additional safety measure, it said.
“These products have a long shelf-life, and consumers, restaurants, and retailers should check their freezers and should throw away any recalled shrimp,” the FDA said.
Those who handled the shrimp under the recall order should use extra vigilance in cleaning and sanitizing any surfaces that may have come in contact with the product to reduce the risk of cross-contamination, the agency said.
