Table of contents
- Latest Smoked Herring Recall Updates
- June 4, 2026: FDA Posts Prime Dried Herring Recall
- May 14, 2026: FDA Posts Hellas Meze Herring Recall
- May 8, 2026: FDA Posts Ma Cohen’s Herring Recall
- June 24, 2025: Newsweek Reports Class I Rating
- June 10, 2025: FDA Posts P. East Herring Recall
- Which Smoked Herring Are Affected?
- Why Was Smoked Herring Recalled?
- Reported Incidents, Injuries, or Illnesses
- What Should Consumers Do?
- Other Recalls, Warnings, or International Actions
- Legal Options
- Frequently Asked Questions
- What Are the Symptoms of Botulism from Smoked Herring?
- What Dates Are Printed on the Recalled Herring Packages?
- Can Store-Bought Foods Cause Botulism?
- When Can I Call the Companies About Recalled Herring?
Smoked herring has been recalled four times since June 2025 because the fish was not properly eviscerated and may carry Clostridium botulinum. Botulism is a serious, potentially fatal form of food poisoning.
The recalls cover P. East Trading Corp. Salted Smoked Split Herring, Ma Cohen’s Kippered Herring, Hellas Meze Golden Smoked Whole Herring and Prime Dried Herring Fish. The newest was posted June 4, 2026. No notice says a recall is closed.
Do not eat the fish. The notices report no illnesses, and no lawsuit, class action or MDL names these recalls.
Latest Smoked Herring Recall Updates
June 4, 2026: FDA Posts Prime Dried Herring Recall
The FDA posted a June 2, 2026 announcement from Prime Food Processing LLC of Brooklyn, New York [1]. The company is recalling 69 cases of Dried Herring Fish.
The voluntary recall covers Item #AF4110, Lot Code 26020. The fish was sold to Asian grocery stores in 17 states.
May 14, 2026: FDA Posts Hellas Meze Herring Recall
The FDA posted a May 13, 2026 announcement from Terra Medi LLC of Long Island City, New York [2]. The company is recalling all imported Hellas Meze Golden Smoked Whole Herring.
The voluntary recall covers code L120425F54. The vacuum packaged fish was sold in Massachusetts, New Jersey, Illinois and New York.
May 8, 2026: FDA Posts Ma Cohen’s Herring Recall
The FDA posted a May 5, 2026 announcement from Shining Sea Fish Co. of Detroit, Michigan [3]. The company is recalling catch weight packages of Ma Cohen’s Kippered Herring.
The voluntary recall covers Lots 25079, 25055, 25028 and 26344. The herring was sold in Michigan, Minnesota and North Dakota, and the company has permanently discontinued it.
June 24, 2025: Newsweek Reports Class I Rating
Newsweek reported that the FDA classified the June 2025 New York herring recall as Class I, its highest risk level for food recalls [4].
Newsweek wrote that the label means a reasonable probability that eating the product will cause health problems or death. It also reported that the recall covers 81 cases in total.
June 10, 2025: FDA Posts P. East Herring Recall
The FDA posted a June 10, 2025 announcement from P. East Trading Corp. of Bronx, New York [5]. The company is recalling Salted Smoked Split Herring.
The voluntary recall covers Lot 1 PRC5073, sold in 18 lb wooden boxes. Stores in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut received the fish.
Which Smoked Herring Are Affected?
Four herring products from four companies are affected. The recalled products are:
- Salted Smoked Split Herring, Lot 1 PRC5073, in 18 lb wooden boxes from P. East Trading Corp.
- Hellas Meze Golden Smoked Whole Herring, code L120425F54, from Terra Medi LLC.
- Ma Cohen’s Kippered Herring, Lots 25079, 25055, 25028 and 26344, from Shining Sea Fish Co.
- Dried Herring Fish, Item #AF4110, Lot Code 26020, in a 7 oz (198 g) bag from Prime Food Processing LLC.
The P. East fish comes from Sea Star Seafood Ltd. of Canada. Stores may repack it in deli-style packaging, so labels vary by store. Dozens of stores received it, including Key Food, Food Bazaar, Ideal Food Basket and C Town.
Why Was Smoked Herring Recalled?
Smoked herring was recalled because the fish was not properly eviscerated, so Clostridium botulinum spores may be present. The P. East notice says spores are more likely to sit in the viscera than in any other part of the fish.
The CDC calls botulism a rare but serious illness [6]. The Prime and Terra Medi notices say New York State rules ban selling uneviscerated fish, which has been linked to botulism outbreaks.
State testing found the problem in each case. A New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets inspector sampled the P. East fish, and the New York State Food Laboratory confirmed the finding.
Inspectors also found the Hellas Meze and Prime fish in violation, and Minnesota Department of Agriculture testing found the Ma Cohen’s problem. The Prime notice says its fish came from an imported product made in Vietnam.
Reported Incidents, Injuries, or Illnesses
None of the four FDA notices reports an illness. The P. East, Ma Cohen’s and Hellas Meze notices say no illnesses have been reported to date. The Prime notice says no illnesses or adverse reactions have been reported.
A lack of reports does not make the fish safe. The recalls respond to the risk of botulism, not to confirmed cases.
The same CDC page says botulism is caused by a toxin that attacks the body’s nerves. It causes difficulty breathing, muscle paralysis and even death. The toxin is made by Clostridium botulinum.
What Should Consumers Do?
If you bought any of the recalled herring, take these steps:
- Do not eat the herring, even if it does not look or smell spoiled.
- Match the lot or code on your package, store label or receipt to the list above.
- Return the fish to the place of purchase for a full refund. Prime asks for the uneaten fish and packaging.
- Call the company. P. East Trading Corp.: (718) 991-6070 or peastl@gmail.com. Shining Sea Fish Co.: 1-313-542-2637. Terra Medi LLC: 718-932-9293. Prime Food Processing LLC: 718-963-2323.
- Seek immediate medical attention if you develop symptoms of botulism, such as weakness, dizziness or double vision.
- Report an illness or product problem to the FDA through its Report a Product Problem page.
Other Recalls, Warnings, or International Actions
No category warning or international herring action names smoked herring, and the FDA has posted only the four company recalls described on this page.
Legal Options
A recall does not automatically establish that anyone is liable or entitled to compensation. A person who became ill after eating recalled herring may keep the packaging, lot code, receipt and medical records.
They may report the illness to the health department and FDA. They may also speak to a lawyer about an individual claim. For a similar case, see our Vobla botulism recall page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Are the Symptoms of Botulism from Smoked Herring?
The symptoms of botulism from smoked herring can include general weakness, dizziness, double or blurred vision, and trouble speaking or swallowing. Difficulty breathing, weakness of other muscles, abdominal distension and constipation may also be common.
What Dates Are Printed on the Recalled Herring Packages?
The recalled herring packages carry dates in the notices. Prime’s bag shows expiration 06.12.28, and Hellas Meze shows production date 4/12/2025 and best before 4/12/2026. Ma Cohen’s lots expire May 03 2026, May 12 2026, June 03 2026 and July 22 2026.
Can Store-Bought Foods Cause Botulism?
Store-bought foods can cause botulism, though this is uncommon. The CDC notes that store-bought foods also can be contaminated with the toxin. The recalled herring was sold in retail stores.
When Can I Call the Companies About Recalled Herring?
You can call the companies about recalled herring at set hours for two of them. Shining Sea, for Ma Cohen’s, takes calls Monday through Friday, 9:00am to 3:00pm EST. Prime Food Processing takes calls Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM EST.