Salmon sold at BJ's recalled for Listeria risk
Wellsley Farms Farm-Raised Atlantic Salmon sold at BJ’s Wholesale Club has been recalled due to potential contamination with Listeria. The recall alerts U.S. consumers to the food safety risk and highlights ongoing vigilance in supply chain management.
The recalled Wellsley Farms salmon was farmed in Norway and processed in a facility in Poland before being distributed in the U.S. by Slade Gorton & Co., Inc. The contamination was not linked to any reported illnesses but was instead discovered by the Food and Drug Administration through a random sample collection. This specific recall applies to 2-pound bags of Wellsley Farms Farm-Raised Atlantic Salmon, lot number 3896, with UPC code 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. *Listeria monocytogenes* is a resilient bacteria that can survive and grow even at refrigerated temperatures, making it a known risk in ready-to-eat foods like cold-smoked or frozen salmon. Contamination often occurs in the processing environment after the fish have been harvested, with the bacteria sometimes residing on equipment and surfaces. Data from some European processors has shown a rising prevalence of *Listeria* in raw salmon in recent years. Past listeriosis outbreaks in Europe have been linked to salmon products originating from Polish processing facilities, similar to the product in the current recall. The distributor, Slade Gorton & Co., Inc., is now investigating the cause of the contamination. The Boston-based company has faced previous recalls, including one for frozen langostinos due to potential *Listeria* contamination and another for tilapia products containing an undeclared milk allergen. *Listeria* infection, or listeriosis, can be particularly dangerous for pregnant women, newborns, adults over 65, and those with weakened immune systems. While healthy individuals might only experience short-term symptoms like fever and diarrhea, it can lead to more severe illness, miscarriages, or stillbirths in vulnerable populations. BJ's Wholesale Club is in the process of directly notifying members who may have purchased the recalled salmon. Consumers with the affected product are advised not to eat it and can contact the distributor for a full refund and disposal instructions.
