Wholesaler Otten’s Seafood is recalling more than 46,800 pounds of wild-caught United States catfish due to government regulations.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) said in a press release that the catfish needed to be recalled because it was produced and distributed without federal inspection.
"I had heard that farmed catfish was regulated by the USDA, but we were unaware that USDA has control of wild catfish,” Otten’s Seafood Owner Magnus Ottenborn told SeafoodSource. “It was a mistake which we have learned from.”
Tinley Park, Illinois, U.S.A.-based Otten’s received the wild Mississippi catfish from Harlon’s LA Fish in Kenner, Louisiana, repacked it into smaller boxes, and then shipped it to wholesale and retail outlets in Illinois and Indiana. The fresh and frozen catfish was produced from 25 January through 21 May.
Harlon Pearce, owner of Harlon’s LA Fish, said he will help Otten’s Seafood’s facility come in line with USDA regulations.
“Wild catfish was thrown in as part of the farmed catfish rules three or four years ago,” he told SeafoodSource. “I don’t have any problem with it.”
Demand for wild catfish has been high during the COVID-19 pandemic, Pearce said, particularly because farmed catfish producers are having challenges producing enough product.
“They are still having trouble getting enough labor, so we are filling a hole that farm-raised fish couldn’t fulfill,” Pearce said.
In fact, supplying wild catfish has helped Harlon’s LA Fish survive the pandemic, Pearce said.
The USDA said there have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consuming the recalled catfish, but said it should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.
