BJ's recalls salmon over Listeria fears
A food safety recall has been issued for one lot of Wellsley Farms Farm-Raised Atlantic Salmon sold at BJ’s Wholesale Club. The recall was initiated due to potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. Consumers who purchased the product are being urged to check their items and follow recall advisories.
The recall specifically targets 2-pound bags of Wellsley Farms Farm-Raised Atlantic Salmon with the UPC code 888670025963 and lot number 3896 printed on the back of the package. The distributor, Slade Gorton & Co., Inc., issued the recall after a random sample collected by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration tested positive for the bacteria. This affected lot was sold at BJ's Wholesale Club stores across seven states: Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. The sales period for the recalled salmon was from January 31 through February 7, 2026. As of the recall announcement, no illnesses have been reported in connection with the salmon. The Massachusetts-based distributor is investigating the source of the contamination and working to prevent future incidents. *Listeria monocytogenes* is a hardy bacterium that can survive and even grow in the cold temperatures of a refrigerator or freezer. This makes it a persistent threat in ready-to-eat and other food products that are not cooked at high temperatures before consumption. While healthy individuals may only experience short-term symptoms like fever, nausea, and diarrhea, the infection can be severe for vulnerable populations. It poses a significant risk to adults over 65, people with weakened immune systems, and pregnant women, for whom it can cause miscarriages and stillbirths. Listeriosis, the illness caused by the bacteria, is the third leading cause of death from foodborne illness in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates it is responsible for approximately 260 deaths each year. BJ's is in the process of directly contacting members who may have purchased the affected salmon. Consumers with the recalled product are advised not to eat it and can call 1-888-628-0730 for instructions on how to receive a full refund and properly dispose of the fish.
