The Korean Food and Drug Administration issued a warning Monday that frozen smoked salmon on the market has found to be contaminated with the food poisoning bacteria, listeria monocytogenes. According to an investigation on 19 frozen smoked salmon products being distributed in Seoul and Gangwon, six cases contained listeria.
The administration seized 92 products weighing up to 93.6kg, and suspended sales licenses of three food manufacturers in Seoul city and Gyeonggi and Gangwon province.
Major symptoms of infection from the bacteria include headaches and convulsions, but it can also develop into a form of encephalitis according to a KFDA official.
The administration added that the imported salmon was 100% free of the bacteria and so contamination occurred during domestic processing.
(Kim Cheol-joong, doctor@chosun.com)
