Canned Shrimp Sold At Safeway, Albertsons Is Being Recalled
Canned shrimp and other seafood can be a quick and easy way to add protein to your recipes without worrying about keeping highly-perishable seafood fresh. Because seafood is relatively low in acid, the only safe method for canning it at home is pressure canning, as hot water bath canning can't achieve a high enough temperature to ensure all bacteria have been killed. Since pressure canning at home is labor intensive, many consumers opt for store-bought canned seafood.
That said, even commercially processed and canned food has food safety issues. On February 26, 2023, Kawasho Foods USA Inc. issued a voluntary recall of a single lot of GEISHA medium canned shrimp sold at various retail stores in Colorado, California, Utah, and Arizona, according to a press release from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration. Why was the lot of canned shrimp recalled? The outlet explains that the shrimp may have been underprocessed, leading to potentially dangerous bacterial contamination.
One lot of GEISHA medium shrimp may be contaminated
Cans of GEISHA medium shrimp were sold at retail stores, including Walmart, Safeway, and Albertsons, among others. Kawasho Foods received reports that several 4-ounce metal cans of shrimp were found swelling, leaking, or bursting, indicating the batch may lead to contamination by pathogens like Clostridium botulinum. The World Health Organization states this can cause botulism, a rare but serious condition that can result in respiratory or muscle paralysis and even death.
The cans of GEISHA medium shrimp, which have been voluntarily recalled, are marked on the bottom of the can with the lot number LGC12W12E22 and a best-by date of May 12, 2026. Customers who purchased cans from the affected lot should not use them, even if they don't smell or appear to be spoiled. Instead, they should return the cans to the stores where they were purchased for a refund. Consumers with questions can contact GEISHA at (212) 841-7400 from Monday through Friday between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. EST or via email at info@geishabrand.com.