Smoked salmon and clam chowders recalled because of botulism risk

Seabear Company of Anacortes, WA, is recalling its Smoked Salmon Chowder and Alehouse Clam Chowder after discovering a packaging issue that could allow contamination with Clostridium botulinum, a bacterium that causes botulism, a potentially fatal illness.

The recalled chowders were distributed to retail stores in Alaska, California, Colorado, Oregon, and Washington and nationwide through direct home delivery via Seabear’s website between Oct. 1, 2024, and March 14, 2025.

The recall stems from a mechanical issue with equipment that caused incomplete seals on some pouches, leading to leaks. Such defects can create conditions for microbial growth, including Clostridium botulinum, which thrives in low-oxygen environments like sealed chowder pouches. This bacterium produces a deadly toxin that can contaminate food without noticeable changes in appearance or smell.

Recalled products:

• Seabear Smoked Salmon Chowder, net wt. 12oz
  • Brand: Seabear Smokehouse
  • UPC: 0 34507 07001 3
  • Impacted Lot Codes (on back of pouch):
    • 64242902 SALCH – Enjoy by: 10/2028
    • 64242912 SALCH – Enjoy by: 10/2028
    • 64242972 SALCH – Enjoy by: 10/2028
    • 64242982 SALCH – Enjoy by: 10/2028
    • 64243042 SALCH – Enjoy by: 10/2028
    • 64243052 SALCH – Enjoy by: 10/2028
    • 64243121 SALCH – Enjoy by: 11/2028
    • 64243131 SALCH – Enjoy by: 11/2028
    • 64243191 SALCH – Enjoy by: 11/2028
    • 64243201 SALCH – Enjoy by: 11/2028
    • 64243651 SALCH – Enjoy by: 12/2028
    • 64250031 SALCH – Enjoy by: 1/2029
    • 64250291 SALCH – Enjoy by: 1/2029
    • 64250301 SALCH – Enjoy by: 1/2029
• Alehouse Clam Chowder, net wt. 12oz
  • Brand: Seabear Smokehouse
  • UPC: 0 34507 07021 1
  • Impacted Lot Codes (on back of pouch):
    • 64241641 ALECH – Enjoy by: 6/2028
    • 64241643 ALECH – Enjoy by: 6/2028
    • 64241661 ALECH – Enjoy by: 6/2028
    • 64243251 ALECH – Enjoy by: 11/2028
    • 64243261 ALECH – Enjoy by: 11/2028
    • 64250222 ALECH – Enjoy by: 1/2029
    • 64250241 ALECH – Enjoy by: 1/2029

Retailers and consumers should not use, sell, serve, or distribute the affected products. 

About botulism
Untreated, botulism can paralyze the muscles needed for breathing, resulting in sudden death.

Anyone who has eaten any of the recalledproducts and developed signs of botulism poisoning should immediately seek medical attention. 

“n foodborne botulism, symptoms generally begin 18 to 36 hours after eating contaminated food. However, symptoms can begin as soon as 6 hours after or up to 10 days later.

The symptoms of botulism may include some of all of the following: double vision, blurred vision, drooping eyelids, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing, difficulty breathing, a thick-feeling tongue, dry mouth, and muscle weakness. People with botulism poisoning may not show all of these symptoms at once.

These symptoms result from muscle paralysis caused by the toxin. If untreated, the disease may progress, and symptoms may worsen to cause paralysis of specific muscles, including those used in breathing and those in the arms, legs, and the body from the neck to the pelvis area.

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