Atlantic Salmon Recalled Over Listeria Risk
Slade Gorton & Co. is recalling a lot of Wellsley Farms Farm-Raised Atlantic Salmon sold at BJ’s Wholesale Club due to potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration warns that listeria can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections, particularly in vulnerable populations. Consumers who purchased the product are urged to follow recall instructions.
The recalled 2-lb bags of Wellsley Farms Farm-Raised Atlantic Salmon are from lot number 3896 and have a UPC code of 888670025963. The affected products were sold at BJ’s Wholesale Club stores in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Virginia between January 31 and February 7, 2026. This specific lot of salmon was farmed in Norway and processed in a facility in Poland. The contamination was discovered after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) collected a random sample for testing, which came back positive for *Listeria monocytogenes*. Slade Gorton & Co. has stated it is investigating the cause of the contamination. As of the recall announcement, no illnesses have been reported. BJ's Wholesale Club is directly notifying members who may have purchased the affected salmon. Consumers with the recalled product can contact the company for a full refund and instructions on what to do with the fish. *Listeria monocytogenes* is a bacterium that can thrive and multiply at refrigeration temperatures, making ready-to-eat foods like cold-smoked salmon a particular concern. The processing of such fish involves extensive handling, which can introduce the bacteria if proper hygienic practices are not followed. This is not the first time Slade Gorton & Co. has issued a recall. The Boston-based company previously recalled cooked langostinos for potential listeria contamination and several tilapia products due to an undeclared milk allergen. Seafood is a known source of listeria-related recalls. Smoked fish is considered a high-risk product, and past international outbreaks have been linked to salmon. The FDA maintains a "zero tolerance" policy for the presence of *Listeria monocytogenes* in ready-to-eat foods because of the potential for serious illness. Listeriosis, the illness caused by the bacteria, is the third-leading cause of death from foodborne illness in the United States. While healthy individuals may only experience short-term symptoms like fever and diarrhea, the infection can be severe for pregnant women, newborns, adults over 65, and people with weakened immune systems.
