The nightmare returns smoked salmon contaminated by Listeria, an alarm that this time comes from France, where several brands and lots have been withdrawn from supermarkets due to the presence of the dangerous bacterium. A problem that returns cyclically, throughout Europe (including Italy).
There Listeria monocytogenes is the bacterium responsible for listeriosisa rare but dangerous disease, especially for vulnerable categories such as the elderly, pregnant women, newborns and people with compromised immune systems. Listeriosis can cause serious symptoms, and in some cases, can even be fatal.
Raw products, such as smoked salmon, represent a particularly high risk of contamination, so much so that it is not uncommon for contaminated products to be reported. Generally, however, recalls are very limited.
In this case, however, the French health authorities, through the official RappelConso platform, have announced the new situation concerning numerous brands of smoked fish (not only salmon but also trout)distributed in main supermarkets in the country, including Auchan, Leclerc, Monoprix and Casino.
In general, the reported products are only potentially contaminated with Listeria, but the actual bacterium has been detected in some batches. The contaminated fish come from the Guyader L’esprit de la Mer company, based in Châteauneuf-du-Faou, Finistère. All the lots involved are identified by the health code FR 29 027 500 CE.
The French Ministry of Agriculture clarified an important aspect of the issue:, the taste or smell. Therefore, it is essential not to consume the reported products and return them to the store where they were purchased or dispose of them properly.
However, if someone has already consumed salmon from one of the recalled lots, it is important to pay attention to the symptoms of listeriosis, which include fever, headache, muscle pain and gastrointestinal disorders such as diarrhea and vomiting. The incubation period of the disease can last up to eight weeks, so it is advisable to consult a doctor immediately in case of suspicious symptoms.
Below, for information purposes, we present the list of products withdrawn from the main supermarket chains in France.
The long trail of contamination in Europe
The French alarm is only the latest in a series of recalls linked to the Listeria contamination that has affected various European countries in recent years.
Since March 2024, incidents of listeriosis associated with smoked salmon have been recorded in Denmark, Italy and Germany, with at least 22 confirmed cases and 5 deaths. The origin of the contamination appears to trace back to a specific production chain, but despite inspections and investigations, the exact point of contamination still remains uncertain.