Avanti Frozen Foods Pvt. Ltd. is recalling shrimp that has been linked to an outbreak of Salmonella Weltevreden. The shrimp is packaged under a number of brand names.

The Food and Drug Administration is investigating the outbreak with assistance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The FDA first became aware of a problem with Avanti’s shrimp in January this year when an import sample tested positive for Salmonella Weltervreden. The test was part of the FDA’s routine compliance program for imported seafood.

In March a shipment of shrimp from the company was refused at the border and was destroyed. The importing company was added to the FDA’s import alert list, which means the agency can block the product at the border without having to inspect it.

It was not until April that outbreak victims were identified through checks on clinical isolates of the pathogen, according to an outbreak investigation notice posted today by the FDA. Two of the patients required hospitalization. 

“As of June 25, 2021, there are now 6 clinical isolates from ill people that are genetic matches to the Salmonella collected from the import sample. Five of the six ill people were interviewed to determine the foods they ate before becoming sick, and all five ill people report eating shrimp,” according to the FDA.

“based on purchase locations and purchase dates available for four ill people, FDA’s traceback investigation identified a common shipment of shrimp that could have been consumed by ill people. The product from this shipment was all sold thawed at retail. This thawed product is past expiration and no longer available for sale.”

The six people who have been confirmed with infections from the outbreak strain of the Salmonella live in Nevada and Arizona. Additional patients are expected to be identified because it can take up to a month or more for infections to be confirmed and the information to reach federal officials.

The implicated products are packaged in various sizes and are frozen cooked, peeled, deveined, shrimp. Some of the packages include cocktail sauce. The frozen shrimp products were distributed nationwide from late December 2020 to late February 2021, according to the company’s recall notice.

The recalled shrimp is sold under the brand names of Censea, Hannaford, Open Acres, Waterfront Bistro, Honest Catch, COS, 365, and Meijer.

There is concern that consumers may have the shrimp in their homes because of its long shelf life. Consumers can use the following information to determine whether they have the recalled shrimp in their homes.

Consumers who have purchased the above products are urged to return them to the place of purchase for a full refund.

about Salmonella infections
Food contaminated with Salmonella bacteria does not usually look, smell, or taste spoiled. Anyone can become sick with a Salmonella infection. Infants, children, seniors, and people with weakened immune systems are at higher risk of serious illness because their immune systems are fragile, according to the CDC.

Anyone who has eaten any of the recalled shrimp and developed symptoms of Salmonella infection should seek medical attention. Sick people should tell their doctors about the possible exposure to Salmonella bacteria because special tests are necessary to diagnose salmonellosis. Salmonella infection symptoms can mimic other illnesses, frequently leading to misdiagnosis.

Symptoms of Salmonella infection can include diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever within 12 to 72 hours after eating contaminated food. Otherwise, healthy adults are usually sick for four to seven days. In some cases, however, diarrhea may be so severe that patients require hospitalization.

Older adults, children, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems, such as cancer patients, are more likely to develop a severe illness and serious, sometimes life-threatening conditions.

Some people get infected without getting sick or showing any symptoms. However, they may still spread the infections to others.