Food Standards Agency
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Mas-River fried dace with salted black beans recalled

Cans of Mas-River fried dace with salted black beans have been recalled because of high levels of histamine. High levels of histamine can cause scombrotoxic fish poisoning if eaten. The Agency has issued a Product Recall Information Notice.

Product information

  • Product details: Mas-River fried dace with salted black beans, 184g
  • Description: Oval can with red and yellow label
  • Best before: 30 April 2013
  • Batch code: IKH MFG:30.04.2010 MALAYSIA NO.62

The affected cans have been recalled and product recall notices have been issued to stores that sell the product explaining why the product has been recalled. If you have bought this product you should contact Oriental Merchant (Europe) on 0113 248 7838 and return it to the store for a full refund.

The science behind the story

Scombrotoxic fish poisoning is linked to eating fish from the family that includes tuna, mackerel, and herring. It is caused when fish and fish products are not refrigerated correctly. Warmer temperatures allow bacteria to multiply and produce a chemical called histamine at levels that can make people ill if it’s eaten. Cooking the fish will not destroy histamine.

Symptoms are similar to those of an allergic reaction; they include skin rash, low blood pressure, vomiting and diarrhoea. Symptoms also include headaches, dizziness, palpitations, and abdominal cramps. Symptoms can occur as quickly as 10 minutes after eating the affected fish and may be serious enough to require urgent medical attention, although they usually resolve within 24 hours.

About product withdrawals and recalls

If there is a problem with a food product that means it should not be sold, then it might be 'withdrawn' (taken off the shelves) or 'recalled' (when customers are asked to return the product). The Food Standards Agency issues Product Withdrawal Information Notices and Product Recall Information Notices to let consumers and local authorities know about problems associated with food. In some cases, a ‘Food Alert for Action’ is issued. This provides local authorities with details of specific action to be taken on behalf of consumers.

You can get FSA alerts about product recall and withdrawals either by email or SMS text. Visit the Get Alerts page at the link towards the bottom of this page to find out how.

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