Elevated risk U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Bacalaitos Criollos Codfish Frying Mix recall: Potential or Undeclared Allergen – Fish

Recall published 2+ years ago

Potential or Undeclared Allergen – Fish

Bacalaitos Criollos Seafood — recalled seafoodBacalaitos Criollos Seafood — recalled seafood (photo 2)
2 photos published by U.S. Food and Drug Administration with the recall notice.

The hazard: Undeclared fish or shellfish

The product contains fish or shellfish that the packaging never declared. If nobody in your home avoids fish or shellfish, there is no health reason to throw it away — though the refund still stands.

What the notice says: People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to fish run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume these products.

Why it matters: The label does not declare fish or shellfish, so anyone who reads labels to avoid it has no way of knowing it is in there. For people without that allergy the product is safe to eat.

Symptoms and when to call a doctor

An undeclared allergen is a danger only to people allergic or intolerant to that ingredient. For everyone else the food is safe. Reactions range from an itchy mouth, hives, stomach cramps or vomiting through to anaphylaxis — swelling of the lips, tongue or throat, a tight chest, wheezing, a sudden drop in blood pressure or collapse. If anaphylaxis is suspected, use an epinephrine auto-injector straight away and call 911, even if the symptoms seem to settle, because a second wave can follow hours later.

This page is general information, not medical advice. If you feel unwell, a clinician who can see you is the only person able to judge your case.

Recall details

Published
September 19, 2024
Risk level
Elevated risk
Issued by
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Brand
Bacalaitos Criollos
Product type
Seafood
Distribution
Puerto Rico
Reports of harm
No reports of illness or injury have been reported in connection with this problem to date.

Products covered by this recall

Codfish Frying Mix

What the company announced

Avole Inc., located in San Sebastian, Puerto Rico is recalling 7-ounce bags of Bacalaitos Criollos Codfish Frying Mix because it may contain undeclared Fish (Pollock). People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to fish run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume these products.

Bacalaitos Criollos Codfish Frying Mix was distributed to: Puerto Rico.

The recalled Bacalaitos Criollos Codfish Frying Mixare packaged in a 7-ounce bag, with Expiration date: 06/2025. Bacalaitos Criollos Codfish Frying Mix item number for this product is 310925. The Use By: 06/2025 can be found printed on the top right-center region of the back of the bag. In addition, some expired products are currently in the market due to undeclared fish (Pollock) in the ingredient or Contains statement.

No reports of illness or injury have been reported in connection with this problem to date.

The recall was initiated after the issue was brought to our attention (The Firm) that the product label failed to declare the common name Fish (POLLOCK) in the ingredient and in the contains statement during an FDA Inspection on September 5th, 2024. As part of the firm’s ongoing investigation, the product has been recollected to recondition and correct the labels.

Consumers who have purchased Bacalaitos Criollos Codfish Frying Mix and are allergic to fish are urged not to consume the product and to return it to the place of purchase. Consumers with questions may contact Liliana Rodriguez at Liana’s Food at (787) 225-7282, Monday-Friday, 8:00 am-4:00pm EST.

Reproduced from the company announcement posted on fda.gov. Links and contact forms in the original are not repeated here; the official notice below has them.

Check your product

The notice names 2 codes you can read straight off the package. Type the one printed on yours and the list below narrows to it.

Best-by / use-by date

Printed beside the lot code, not on the price sticker.

  • 06/2025

Package size

Match the net weight or the piece count on the front of the pack.

  • 7 ounce

Codes are lifted verbatim from the FDA — Company recall announcements notice. A code that is missing here may still be covered — the official notice is the complete list.

What to do about Fish

Bacalaitos Criollos — The product contains fish or shellfish that the packaging never declared. If nobody in your home avoids fish or shellfish, there is no health reason to throw it away — though the refund still stands.

  1. If anyone in your household avoids fish or shellfish, stop serving the product immediately and check whether any was used in food already prepared.
  2. Keep the pack if you want a refund, or photograph the label and the lot code and then bin it. If nobody in the house avoids fish or shellfish, you may simply eat it — the recall is about disclosure, not spoilage.
  3. Make sure the household epinephrine auto-injector is where it should be and in date, if someone here carries one.
  4. If a reaction has already happened, report it to the FDA through its consumer complaint coordinator so the case is attached to this recall.

Getting a refund without the pack

The commonest reason people skip the refund is that they have already thrown the item away. That rarely matters.

  • A photo of the label and lot code is accepted by most grocers, and so is a card statement line showing the purchase.
  • Store credit is often offered first. You can ask for the original payment method instead, and it is normally granted.
  • No photo either? Ask anyway. Grocery chains settle recall refunds at the service desk because disputing them costs more than paying them.
  • For a multi-pack or a case, ask for the full purchase price rather than a per-unit figure — the recall covers what you paid.

Remedy named in the notice: Consumers who have purchased Bacalaitos Criollos Codfish Frying Mix and are allergic to fish are urged not to consume the product and to return it to the place of purchase.

Company contact: Avole, Inc. — Consumers: Liliana Rodriguez at Liana’s Food, Avole Inc. (Productos Nita), (787) 225-7282, 787-568-9020

The official notice

This page summarises a notice published by U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The agency notice is the authoritative version — read it before you act, and treat it as the final word if anything here looks different.

Open the FDA — Company recall announcements record U.S. Food and Drug Administration recalls

Questions people ask about this recall

Why was Bacalaitos Criollos seafood recalled?

Potential or Undeclared Allergen – Fish People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to fish run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume these products.

How do I know if I have the recalled product?

Match the codes printed on your package against the notice: best-by date 06/2025. If the code on your package is not on that list, your unit is outside the recall.

What should I do with it right now?

If anyone in your household avoids fish or shellfish, stop serving the product immediately and check whether any was used in food already prepared.

Can I get my money back?

The notice says: Consumers who have purchased Bacalaitos Criollos Codfish Frying Mix and are allergic to fish are urged not to consume the product and to return it to the place of purchase.

Which states were affected?

The notice lists Puerto Rico.

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