The Recall Desk
Agency classPublic Health AlertOur severity:ModerateUSDA FSIS·PHA-06242022·Announced 2022-06-24

USDA Issues Public Health Alert for Ineligible Korean Catfish Stew Imports

USDA FSIS issued a public health alert for frozen catfish stew imported from Korea, a country ineligible to export these products to the U.S.

The agency’s classification

USDA FSIS: Public Health Alert

Public Health Alert is a warning FSIS issues when there is a food-safety concern but a recall is not requested, typically because the affected product is no longer available for purchase.

This is the agency’s own classification, taken from its notice. The severity score below is our assessment, not the agency’s. How recall classes work

What this means for you

Our assessment, not the agency’s: severity 2/5 (Moderate).

Minor labeling or packaging issue, or a voluntary precautionary recall. Risk of harm is low but real — follow the manufacturer's instructions.

Our severity reasoning: The source explicitly states there are no confirmed reports of adverse reactions and the hazard is a regulatory import violation rather than a confirmed biological contamination, fitting the criteria for a voluntary precautionary action or low-risk issue.

Plain-English summary

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) issued a public health alert for frozen, ready-to-cook Siluriformes (catfish) stew products imported by Grand BK Corporation. The products were imported from Korea, which is not eligible to export Siluriformes products to the United States. The specific product is a 2.42-lb. plastic container labeled “SPICY CATFISH STEW” with “IMPORTED BY GRAND BK CORP.” on the label, written in Korean. These items do not bear an establishment number or a USDA mark of inspection.

The products were imported between September 2021 and May 2022 and shipped to retail locations in Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, as well as sold through internet sales nationwide. The issue was discovered during routine FSIS surveillance activity. No recall was requested because the products are no longer available for purchase, but FSIS is concerned that consumers may still possess them.

There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products. Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them and should throw them away or return them to the place of purchase. Anyone concerned about a reaction should contact a healthcare provider.

The recalled product

Product
FSIS Issues Public Health Alert for Ineligible Siluriformes Products Imported from Korea
Category
Food — Frozen Seafood
Hazard

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

The notice also names 8 states specifically:

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