Atlantic Salmon Recalled for Listeria

The specific batch of recalled Wellsley Farms salmon is Lot #3896, sold in two-pound bags with UPC code 888670025963. The product was 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. The contamination was discovered after a random sample collected by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration tested positive for *Listeria monocytogenes*. As of the recall announcement, no illnesses have been reported. Slade Gorton & Co. is investigating the source of the contamination, and BJ's is directly notifying customers who may have purchased the affected salmon. This is not the first time the Boston-based Slade Gorton & Co. has issued a recall. In 2017, the company recalled tilapia products due to undeclared milk allergens. In 2008, it voluntarily recalled frozen langostinos, also because of potential *Listeria monocytogenes* contamination. The recalled salmon was farmed in Norway and processed in a facility in Poland. This is noteworthy as European health agencies have previously investigated listeria outbreaks linked to ready-to-eat salmon products from Polish processing plants. For instance, a multi-country outbreak from 2015-2018 that resulted in 12 illnesses and four deaths was linked to salmon processed in Poland. *Listeria monocytogenes* is a resilient bacteria that can survive and multiply even in refrigerated conditions. While healthy individuals might only experience short-term symptoms like fever, diarrhea, and nausea, the infection, known as listeriosis, can be severe for vulnerable populations. For pregnant women, listeriosis can lead to miscarriages, stillbirths, and life-threatening infections in newborns. The elderly and individuals with weakened immune systems are also at a higher risk of serious, and sometimes fatal, infections. Symptoms of a more severe infection can include headache, stiff neck, confusion, and loss of balance.