FSIS Issues Public Health Alert for Ineligible Siluriformes Products Imported Fr...
Reason for Recall / Hazard
Import Violation
Product Description & Identification
WASHINGTON, May 14, 2021 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing a public health alert for approximately 165 pounds of imported frozen Siluriformes products. The products were imported from Brazil, a country ineligible to export Siluriformes products to the United States. A recall was not recommended because it is believed that the affected products are no longer available to be purchased by consumers. The frozen whole Siluriformes products were produced on April 23, 2021. EB Express Provisions Inc. (EB) is the Importer of Record (IOR), a Newark, New Jersey firm. The following product is subject to the public health alert: 13-14 lbs. cases containing “GUTTED FROZEN FISH SCIENTIFIC NAME: Hypostomus” with a production date of 23/04/2021 represented on the label. The whole frozen fish were removed from the cases and sold individually, by weight, in plastic bags at Mass. Mineirao Markets. Refer to the label link here for additional product information. The product is identified with an ineligible establishment number (S.I.F. 188) on its packaging. The product does not bear a USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped to retail locations in Massachusetts. The problem was discovered when FSIS followed up on a referral from USDA’s Smuggling Interdiction & Trade Compliance Program, regarding Cascudo fish (Hypostomus sp), of the order Siluriformes, product of Brazil. Brazil is not eligible to import raw Siluriformes products into the United States. FSIS is concerned that some product may be in consumers’ freezers. Anyone concerned about an illness should contact a health care provider. Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase. Consumers and media with questions regarding the public health alert should contact Nelson Araujo, EB Express Provisions Inc, at (973) 868-5381 or email eb21araujo@gmail.com. Consumers with food safety questions can call the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854) or live chat via Ask USDA from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday. Consumers can also browse food safety messages at Ask USDA or send a question via email to MPHotline@usda.gov . For consumers that need to report a problem with a meat, poultry, or egg product, the online Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System can be accessed 24 hours a day at https://foodcomplaint.fsis.usda.gov/eCCF/ .
Affected Products
13-14 lbs. cases containing “GUTTED FROZEN FISH SCIENTIFIC NAME: Hypostomus” with a production date of 23/04/2021 represented on the label.
Additional Source Details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Langcode | English |
| Field year | 2021 |
| Field title | FSIS Issues Public Health Alert for Ineligible Siluriformes Products Imported From Brazil |
| Field labels | Labels for Public Health Alert 051421.pdf |
| Field summary | <p><strong>WASHINGTON, May 14, 2021</strong> – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing a public health alert for approximately 165 pounds of imported frozen Siluriformes products. The products were imported from Brazil, a country ineligible to export Siluriformes products to the United States. A recall was not recommended because it is believed that the affected products are no longer available to be purchased by consumers. </p> <p>The frozen whole Siluriformes products were produced on April 23, 2021. EB Express Provisions Inc. (EB) is the Importer of Record (IOR), a Newark, New Jersey firm. The following product is subject to the public health alert:</p> <ul> <li>13-14 lbs. cases containing “GUTTED FROZEN FISH SCIENTIFIC NAME: Hypostomus” with a production date of 23/04/2021 represented on the label. The whole frozen fish were removed from the cases and sold individually, by weight, in plastic bags at Mass. Mineirao Markets.</li> </ul> <p>Refer to the label link <a href="/sites/default/files/media_file/2021-05/Labels%20for%20Public%20Health%20Alert%20051421.pdf">here</a> for additional product information. The product is identified with an ineligible establishment number (S.I.F. 188) on its packaging. The product does not bear a USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped to retail locations in Massachusetts. </p> <p>The problem was discovered when FSIS followed up on a referral from USDA’s Smuggling Interdiction & Trade Compliance Program, regarding Cascudo fish (Hypostomus sp), of the order Siluriformes, product of Brazil. Brazil is not eligible to import raw Siluriformes products into the United States.</p> <p>FSIS is concerned that some product may be in consumers’ freezers. Anyone concerned about an illness should contact a health care provider. Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.</p> <p>Consumers and media with questions regarding the public health alert should contact Nelson Araujo, EB Express Provisions Inc, at (973) 868-5381 or email eb21araujo@gmail.com. </p> <p>Consumers with food safety questions can call the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854) or live chat via <a href="https://ask.fsis.usda.gov/">Ask USDA</a> from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday. Consumers can also browse food safety messages at <a href="https://ask.fsis.usda.gov/">Ask USDA</a> or send a question via email to <a href="mailto:MPHotline@usda.gov">MPHotline@usda.gov</a>. For consumers that need to report a problem with a meat, poultry, or egg product, the online Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System can be accessed 24 hours a day at <a href="https://foodcomplaint.fsis.usda.gov/eCCF/">https://foodcomplaint.fsis.usda.gov/eCCF/</a>.</p> <p> </p> |
| Field processing | Raw - Intact |
| Field recall url | http://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/fsis-issues-public-health-alert-ineligible-siluriformes-products-imported-brazil |
| Field risk level | Public Health Alert |
| Field has spanish | False |
| Field recall date | 2021-05-14 |
| Field recall type | Public Health Alert |
| Field active notice | False |
| Field media contact | Buck McKay |
| Field product items | 13-14 lbs. cases containing “GUTTED FROZEN FISH SCIENTIFIC NAME: Hypostomus” with a production date of 23/04/2021 represented on the label. |
| Field recall number | PHA-05142021-01 |
| Field recall reason | Import Violation |
| Field archive recall | False |
| Field last modified date | 2021-05-15 |
| Field related to outbreak | False |
| Field recall number export | PHA-05142021-01 |
| Field company media contact | Company Contact EB Express Provisions Inc Nelson Araujo 973-868-5381 eb21araujo@gmail.com |
| Field recall classification | Public Health Alert |