Public health alert issued for catfish product sold in Asian grocery stores in USA

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing a public health alert for siluriformes (catfish) products imported by Grand BK Corporation, a major food distributor for Hmart Group, one of the largest Asian-style supermarkets in the U.S.

The Carlstadt, New Jersey, U.S.A.-based company imported Spicy Catfish Stew from South Korea, a country ineligible to export siluriformes products to the U.S., FSIS said in a press release.

The agency did not request a recall because the products are no longer available for purchase. The Spicy Catfish Stew was shipped to retailers in the U.S. states of Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, and sold through internet sales nationwide.

The frozen, ready-to-cook siluriformes stew products were imported on various dates from September 2021 through May 2022 in 2.42-pound plastic containers containing “Spicy Catfish Stew” with “Imported By Grand BK Corp.” on the label.

The product labels, written in Korean, do not bear an establishment number nor a USDA mark of inspection, according to FSIS.

“The problem was discovered during routine FSIS surveillance activity of imported product,” FSIS said.

There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consuming the products. However, consumers who have purchased the products are urged not to consume them and throw them away or return them to the place of purchase.

Elsewhere, Maple, Ontario, Canada-based Xinpangao International Trade Corporation is recalling Shrimp Dumpling with Fish Wrapper because it contains egg that is not declared on the label.

The recalled product has been sold in Ontario and Quebec and may have been distributed in other provinces or territories, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency said in a press release.

Photo courtesy of USDA FSIS