OTTAWA, January 9, 2009 - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Frobisher International Enterprise Ltd. are warning the public not to consume the School of Fish brand frozen Leatherjacket described below because the product may be contaminated with ciguatera toxin.
The affected product, School of Fish brand frozen Leatherjacket, product of China, is sold in packages of various weights bearing Production Code HI04 and one of the following Size and UPC combinations:
- Size 100/200 and UPC 8 74718 00074 0; or,
- Size 200/400 and UPC 8 74718 00073 3.
This product has been distributed in British Columbia and Ontario.
There have been two reported illnesses associated with the consumption of this product.
Fish contaminated with ciguatera toxin may not look or smell spoiled. Ciguatera toxin is a marine biotoxin that accumulates in fish and causes an illness in humans called Ciguatera Poisoning. The toxin is not destroyed by cooking. The symptoms of Ciguatera Poisoning include gastroenteritis (vomiting, cramps, diarrhea), itching of the skin, and central nervous system dysfunction, which often includes hot and cold inversion (e.g., cold foods or drinks feel hot, a hot shower feels cold, etc.).
The importer, Frobisher International Enterprise Ltd., Delta, British Columbia is voluntarily recalling the affected product from the marketplace. The CFIA is monitoring the effectiveness of the recall.
For more information, consumers and industry can call one of the following numbers:
Frobisher International Enterprise Ltd. at 604-523-8108; or,
CFIA at 1-800-442-2342 / TTY 1-800-465-7735 (8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern time, Monday to Friday).
For information on Ciguatera Poisoning, visit the Food Facts web page at: http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/fssa/concen/cause/ciguate.shtml
For information on receiving recalls by e-mail, or for other food safety facts, visit our web site at www.inspection.gc.ca.
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Media Inquiries:
Mark Hendrickson
Frobisher International Enterprise Ltd.
604-523-8108
Karl Probst (English)
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Office of Food Safety and Recall
613-755-3332
Linda LeBlanc (French)
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Office of Food Safety and Recall
613-760-4112
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