Blackbeards Smokehouse brand smoked mussels are being recalled due to the possible presence of listeria.
New Zealand Food Safety deputy director general Vincent Arbuckle said for vulnerable persons, including pregnant women and their unborn children, newborns, the elderly, and persons with weaker immune systems, listeriosis can be serious.
“It is particularly dangerous during pregnancy as it can cause miscarriage, premature labour or stillbirth, and infection in the unborn baby,” Arbuckle said.
“Infection in healthy adults is unlikely to be severe, causing mild diarrhoea and flu-like symptoms within a few days of eating contaminated food.”
There have been no reports of anyone contracting listeria from consuming the mussels at this stage, the Ministry of Primary Industries said, and the listeria risk was identified through routine testing.
