The Food Standards Agency, Food Standards Scotland and the UK Health Security Agency have issued advice to vulnerable groups of consumers such as those with weakened immune systems about the risks of Listeria monocytogenes infection linked to ready to eat smoked fish.
Listeria is a bacterium that causes an illness called listeriosis. It is widespread in the environment and once a food product has been contaminated it can grow on food at standard refrigeration temperatures. It can be destroyed by thorough cooking.
It is advised that people who are aged 65 and over, pregnant or have weakened immune systems should ensure that their ready to eat smoked fish is thoroughly cooked before they eat it. ‘Ready to eat smoked fish’ refers to chilled smoked fish products that would not normally be cooked at home before being eaten.
Professor Saheer Gharbia, Interim Deputy Director Gastrointestinal Infections and Food Safety at UKHSA has issued the following statement:
“Most people won’t have any symptoms of the infection or will only experience mild symptoms such as abdominal pain or diarrhoea, which usually pass within a few days without the need for treatment.
However, some people are at higher risk of much more serious illness, including those over 65, people who are pregnant or newborn babies, and those with weakened immune systems including people undergoing immunosuppressive treatment, and people with chronic liver or kidney disease.
In light of this ongoing outbreak, we are advising pregnant and vulnerable people to only eat ready to eat smoked fish that has been thoroughly cooked to reduce the risk of listeriosis. If you have any concerns about your health please speak to your midwife, GP or hospital specialist team.”
I'm a bit dubious about this and wonder why its surfaced just now. We are encouraged to eat oily fish as its healthy. So I just wonder what. has precipitated it.
In the article I read very sadly it does include smoked salmon .
Smoked fish and listeriaDue to a listeria outbreak linked to smoked fish, people at higher risk of serious infection should only eat smoked fish products that have been thoroughly cooked.When cooking smoked fish products at home, make sure they are steaming hot all the way through.Find out more about the listeria outbreak in smoked fish from the Food Standards Agency
The problem with ALL smoked fish is that they’re not actually cooked properly!
They’re ONLY wood smoked in a traditional wood fired “oven” to give that beechwood taste?!
Temperatures never get very high.
Bacteria and other nasties are not killed and live on to kill you or make you sick.
Unfortunately tradition, fashion, trends, supermarket advertising and hype NEVER follow the microbiological science! I think it’s mainly salmon but smoked, peppered mackerel could also be infected. Perhaps the very high salt content kills some bacterial species?
The canned/tinned stuff I think is cooked?! But?😳🧐
“Smoked fish, pate, cured meats and some soft cheeses such as camembert and brie have been linked with listeriosis.” BBC
My good friend runs his own smoke house and his salmon is delicious. I dont understand why this is being discussed now? I will continue to eat smoked salmon as I feel better for it...and I love sushi too.
But thank you for highlighting this. We can make an informed decision. 👍
It’s nothing to do with your friend’s ability to provide delicious smoked salmon..The listeria is in the salmon & in order to kill it off it has to be cooked at a very high temperature…..which is not achievable when smoking .
When I was in my 30’s I caught amoebic dysentery from shell fish….& not only was it very unpleasant…I was in hospital for three weeks ….but I have had gut problems ever since.
I am really upset at this directive as smoked salmon with a baked potato is one of my favorite lunches…but I don’t think it would be the same if I popped the salmon in the microwave ……or the frying pan!
But as deaths from listeriosis have promoted this warning I think I will abstain until there is some clearer information….I usually read directives like this & move on….but somehow this has made me think twice.
it is my brother in law who is on immunosuppressants as he had a heart transplant 4 years ago. unfortunately they have made his migraines chronic and he has stage 4 kidney failure, so it is very difficult for him to be allowed new medications. he also has severe diverticulitis, but doctor said he would not survive having surgery. I am having a spinal cord stimulator implanted in January for refractory migraines as I have failed all treatments and also have neuropathic pain. I am 69 and anxious having surgery, but I have migraines since I was 12 years old.I wake in pain every morning and in Ireland we do not have all the treatments available in USA. I have post viral fatigue since July and now I got covid from my brother as he met a friend last week who did not tell my brother that he had it . We both have had our 2nd booster. 195fifi.
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