Frozen Shrimp Recall Expands to Includes Products from Whole Foods and Target

Earlier this summer, Avanti Frozen Foods issued a voluntary recall on some of its packages of frozen cooked shrimp because, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the affected products “[have] the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.”

Although the original recall involved frozen shrimp sold under a half-dozen different brand names — including Chicken of the Sea, Honest Catch, Meijer, and Whole Foods’ 365 brand — it has since been expanded to include additional brand names and expiration dates. (The frozen shrimp involved in this recall were distributed throughout the United States between November 2020 and May 2021, although the affected products may have an expiration date as late as September 2023.)

The recall also includes Mai Cuisine-branded tempura rolls that were sold at some Target location in California, as well as the Chicken of the Sea frozen shrimp rings and Meijer frozen cooked shrimp that were available at some Meijer stores.

“This recall expansion has been initiated out of an abundance of precaution and will cover a large amount of product that has not been associated with any illness but [has] been undertaken following discussions with FDA and CDC and reflects Avanti’s commitment to public health and safety,” a company spokesperson said in a statement.

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As of this writing, the Centers for Disease Control has connected nine salmonella infections to products included in this Avanti Frozen Foods recall, and three of those people have had to be hospitalized. Four cases of salmonella were reported in Nevada, two cases were reported in both Arizona and Michigan, and one person became ill in Rhode Island.

The CDC is encouraging anyone who has frozen shrimp in their freezer to check them against this list of affected brands and their expiration dates. If you do find one of these packages, do not eat them; instead it recommends either trashing them or returning them to the retailer where they were purchased. In addition, it encourages thoroughly washing any surfaces that the shrimp might’ve come in contact with.

The agency also lists the symptoms of severe Salmonella, which include diarrhea and a fever of 102°F or higher; diarrhea that lasts longer than three days; and “so much vomiting that you cannot keep liquids down.” If you have experienced any of these symptoms, it advises reaching out to your healthcare provider.