Jeka Fish recalls fish cakes in Denmark amid listeria outbreak

Jeka Fish, a producer of pre-prepared fish cakes in Denmark, has issued a widespread recall due to a listeria outbreak. The Statens Serum Institut (SSI) has reported seven patients infected with Listeria monocytogenes, aged between 33 and 89, all of whom were hospitalized. One of the infected individuals died within 30 days of the bacteria being detected.

SSI compared the bacteria strains from patients with environmental samples from the production site and found them to be identical. This evidence, along with patient reports of consuming Jeka Fish products, indicates the source of the infection.

Listeria is an environmental bacterium often found in food production facilities. It can exist in soil, wastewater, and the intestines of animals and humans. In addition to the Danish cases, at least two persons abroad have contracted the same strain of listeria, with one confirmed to have eaten Jeka Fish products sold in a local supermarket.

Jeka Fish has recalled nine types of fish cakes believed to contain listeria, sold in Lidl and Coop stores, including SuperBrugsen and Kvickly. The exact number of recalled packages is uncertain, but it is at least 1,000. Listeria was detected in two locations on the production site but not in the fish cakes themselves or production machinery.

Consumers with recalled products are advised to dispose of them or return them to the store. SSI highlighted that while the risk of illness from consuming these fish cakes is low for the general population, elderly individuals and those with weakened immune systems are particularly vulnerable. Symptoms such as high fever and muscle aches after consumption should prompt a visit to a physician.

In November 2022, Jeka Fish was fined for marketing potentially contaminated fish cakes linked to a separate illness outbreak.