Florida inspectors find listeria in package
Tuesday, January 18, 2005
BY AMANDA GERUT
Star-Ledger Staff
Perona Farms, a producer of smoked salmon, has instituted a voluntary recall of its signature cured fish because of potential bacteria contamination, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
The Smoked Atlantic Salmon has been recalled from ShopRite, Price Chopper/Golub, Weis Markets, Earth Fare and Publix supermarket chains because the Florida Department of Agriculture and Markets found listeria organisms in a 4-ounce package during a random inspection, the FDA said.
Listeria can cause fatal infections in young children or the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems, according to the FDA. In healthy people, the bacteria can cause high fever, severe headaches, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea. In pregnant women, a listeria infection can cause miscarriages.

Mark Avondoglio, general manager at Perona Farms in Andover Township, said the FDA “came in and checked the plant” and found it in compliance with the standards.
“We haven’t found any (salmon) that tested positive — zero,” Avondoglio said.
The recalled salmon is Lot 4328 with expiration dates of Jan. 29, Jan. 30, Jan. 31, Feb. 1, Feb. 2, or Feb. 3, the FDA said. The plain smoked salmon has been recalled, as well as Moroccan, scampi, bacon, Ming-Tsai’s, gravelox, czar and pastrami flavors.
Consumers with the 4328 lot number should return the salmon to the place it was purchased for a refund, officials said.
In 1999, Perona Farms instituted a voluntary recall of its salmon dip after listeria was found in six containers in a grocery store in upstate New York. Production on the dip was suspended to locate the source of the bacteria.
Amanda Gerut covers Sussex County. She can be reached at agerut@starledger.com or (973) 383- 0516.