Public Health Alert: Sug Chee Smoked Salmon Products in 7 ounce jars may pose health risk  

 


The Whatcom County Health Department is warning consumers not to consume the following Sug Chee products:
•    Sug Chee Native American Wild Smoked King Salmon in 7 ounce glass jars.
•    Sug Chee Native American Wild Smoked King Salmon with Jalapenos in 7 ounce glass jars.

These products were manufactured in an unlicensed food processing plant.  The products may pose a health risk because the operator may not have followed procedures required to assure the destruction of pathogens such as Clostridium botulinum.  All lots and all date codes are included in this public health alert.

Growth of Clostridium botulinum in foods is responsible for botulism, a serious and potentially fatal illness.  Consumers who possess these products are strongly advised to throw them away.  Although, no illnesses have been associated with these products, the products are considered a potential health risk because they were produced in an unapproved processing facility.

The Whatcom County Health Department further advises consumers that other Sug Chee foods, such as huckleberry, elderberry and blackberry jam were also processed without proper licensing or inspection.  We recommend that consumers dispose all lots and all date codes of these products as well.  The ingredients in berry jams make them less likely to pose a health risk but the sanitary condition of the food processing plant cannot be verified.

These products were known to have been sold at Bellewood Acres Farm Store at 231 East Ten Mile Road in Whatcom County until December 30, 2009.  Bellewood Acres has offered to refund the purchase price to consumers who purchased Sug Chee products at their retail store.  Contact the Store at (360) 398-9187.

The products may have been sold through other retail outlets or directly to consumers by the manufacturer.
 
Consumers with questions may call the food safety program at the Whatcom County Health Department at (360) 676-6724.          


Contact Person: Tom Kunesh    (360) 676-6724
Environmental Health Supervisor 


 

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