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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Twin Falls Firm Pulls Crab Product Surimi Brand Spreads May Have Potentially Fatal Contamination

Associated Press

Silver Creek Farms Inc. on Wednesday issued a recall for its Surimi Crab Spread and Imitation Crab Spread because of the potential of contamination.

The Twin Falls company said its imitation crab spread was distributed to Albertsons stores in Washington, Oregon and North Idaho and the crab spread, packed in 8-ounce cups, was also distributed to Albertsons in the same states and Smith’s Food and Drug Stores in Idaho, Wyoming, Nevada and Utah.

Surimi Crab Spread also was distributed to Atkinson’s Food Store in Ketchum.

The company said the recalled products have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail and elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.

A news release from the company said although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.

No illnesses have been reported to date. The potential for contamination was noted after testing revealed the presence of Listeria monocytogenes in 8-ounce packages of Surimi Crab Spread. To date, other seafood spreads produced by Silver Creek Farms have not shown the potential for contamination.

Production of the product has been suspended while the Food and Drug Administration and the company investigate the source of the problem.