The FDA Issued a Class I Recall on Costco’s Kirkland Signature Smoked Salmon

A recall on smoked fish sold at Costco has just been upgraded to the more dire risk level from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA). The recall of Costco’s Kirkland Signature Smoked Salmon, which was first issued in October, is now labeled as Class I — the highest risk level given by the FDA in a recall. 

A Class I designation is used to describe “a situation in which there is a reasonable probability that the use of, or exposure to, a violative product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death,” per the FDA. 

Brooklyn-based Acme Smoked Fish Corporation, which manufactures the product for the Washington-based big box chain, originally recalled 111 cases of smoked salmon in late October after laboratory testing confirmed the presence of Listeria monocytogenes.

The impacted products were sold in twin 12-ounce packages, with the UPC number 0 96619 25697 6, lot number 8512801270, and a best-by-date of 11/13/2024. While the best-by-date has passed and the smoked fish is no longer sold in stores, it’s possible that people may have this salmon in their freezers for future use.

The smoked salmon, which was distributed between October 9, 2024 and October 13, 2024 to the Southeast Costco Distribution Center in West Palm Beach, Florida and Costco Warehouse stores in Florida, was sold at “select” Costco locations in the southeastern United States. 

If you purchased a recalled product, the FDA recommends returning it to Costco for a full refund. 

Listeria monocytogenes caused a wave of serious food recalls last year. During the summer of 2024, more than 7.2 million pounds of Boar’s Head deli meats were recalled in an outbreak that killed at least nine people. BrucePac also recalled nearly 10 million pounds of meat over possible listeria contamination in October. 

What is listeria monocytogenes?

Listeria is a bacteria that can contaminate food, while Listeria monocytogenes is a form of listeria that can cause a serious and potentially deadly infection called listeriosis, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Listeria infects about 1,600 people a year, and 260 die from listeriosis annually, according to the CDC. 

Listeriosis can cause two forms of illness: an intestinal illness, which is marked by diarrhea and vomiting, or an invasive illness, which can cause symptoms like fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, loss of balance, and seizures, according to the CDC. Listeriosis can also cause miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, or a life-threatening infection of the newborn in people who are pregnant. 

What foods are most likely to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes?

There are a lot of foods that have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. However, the bacteria is most likely to show up in these foods, per the FDA: 

• Raw, unpasteurized milks and cheeses
• Ice cream
• Raw or processed vegetables
• Raw or processed fruits
• Raw or undercooked poultry
• Sausages
• Hot dogs
• Deli meats
• Raw or smoked fish and other seafood

While the latest recall is serious — and potentially deadly — no illnesses have been reported in connection with it so far.