Class I U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Hellas Meze Golden Smoked Whole Herring recall: Product is an uneviscerated fish with potential for Clostridium botulinum

Recall published 6 months ago

Product is an uneviscerated fish with potential for Clostridium botulinum contamination

Hellas Meze Other food products — recalled other food products
Photo published by U.S. Food and Drug Administration with the recall notice.

The hazard: Botulism risk

Botulinum toxin is what this recall guards against. It gives no warning in taste or smell, and a swollen or leaking container is a sign but not a reliable one.

What the notice says: Product is an uneviscerated fish with potential for Clostridium botulinum contamination

Why it matters: This product may not have been processed in a way that reliably destroys Clostridium botulinum spores. The toxin they can produce in a sealed container is one of the most dangerous substances in food safety, and it is tasteless and odourless.

Symptoms and when to call a doctor

Botulism is a medical emergency. The CDC lists double or blurred vision, drooping eyelids, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing, a dry mouth, and muscle weakness that starts in the face and moves down the body. In an infant, watch for poor feeding, a weak cry, drooping eyelids and unusual floppiness. Call 911 or go to an emergency department immediately if any of these appear after eating a recalled product — treatment works best when it is given early.

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

Recall number
H-0899-2026
Published
May 13, 2026
Risk level
Class I
Status
Ongoing
Issued by
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Brand
Hellas Meze
Product type
Other food products
Units affected
20 cases (15 units per case)
Distribution
Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York
Lot / code info
production date of 4/12/2025, best before 4/12/2026, L120425F54
Reports of harm
No illnesses have been reported to date.

Products covered by this recall

Hellas Meze Golden Smoked Whole Herring

What the company announced

Terra Medi LLC of Long Island City, NY is recalling all of the imported Hellas Meze Golden Smoked Whole herring vacuum packaged because of improper evisceration of the fish. The sale of uneviscerated fish is prohibited under New York State Agriculture and Markets regulation because Clostridium Botulinum spores are more likely to be concentrated in the viscera than any other portion of the fish. Uneviscerated fish has been linked to outbreaks of botulism poisoning. Symptoms of botulism include dizziness, blurred or double vision and trouble with speaking or swallowing. Difficult in breathing, weakness of other muscles, abdominal distention and constipation may also be common symptoms. People experiencing these problems should seek immediate medical attention.

The product was distributed to MA, NJ, IL, and NY to retail stores and wholesale distributors.

The product is a single whole smoked herring visible through plastic vacuum packaging, refrigerated, and has a production date of 4/12/2025, best before 4/12/2026, L120425F54.

No illnesses have been reported to date.

The product was found to be violative after sampling by the New York State department of agriculture and markets inspectors and subsequent analysis of Food Laboratory personnel.

Customers who have purchased the product are urged to not consume the fish and to return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers who have questions may contact the company at 718-932-9293.

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 8 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.

  • 4/12/2026
  • L120425F54
  • 12
  • 2026

Model or item number

On the rating label, the box or the instruction sheet.

  • 12
  • 2025
  • 2026
  • L1204

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 Botulism

Hellas Meze — Botulinum toxin is what this recall guards against. It gives no warning in taste or smell, and a swollen or leaking container is a sign but not a reliable one.

  1. Do not taste it. Not even a small amount, and not to check whether it has turned.
  2. Wash anything the contents spilled on with a bleach solution and wear gloves while you do it.
  3. If anyone has eaten it and has blurred vision, trouble swallowing or weakness, call 911 — this does not wait for an appointment.
  4. Do not open the container. If it is already open, do not sniff it — double-bag it and keep it away from children and pets.

Refunds, and what else you can claim

The purchase price is the floor, not the ceiling. Where a recall caused you a real cost, say so.

  • Claim the refund at the store first; it is the fastest route and needs the least paperwork.
  • If you bought several packs over time, list them. Firms routinely settle for more than a single unit when a customer asks.
  • Medical costs, lost earnings or a spoiled event are not handled at the service desk. Write to the company contact on this page instead, with dates and documents.
  • Keep copies of everything you send. If a recall caused harm, that file is what any later claim rests on.

Remedy named in the notice: Customers who have purchased the product are urged to not consume the fish and to return it to the place of purchase for a full refund.

Company contact: Terra Medi LLC — Consumers: 718-932-9293

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 Hellas Meze other food products recalled?

Product is an uneviscerated fish with potential for Clostridium botulinum contamination Product is an uneviscerated fish with potential for Clostridium botulinum contamination

How do I know if I have the recalled product?

Match the codes printed on your package against the notice: best-by date 4/12/2026 or L120425F54; model number 12, 2025, 2026. 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?

Do not taste it. Not even a small amount, and not to check whether it has turned.

Can I get my money back?

The notice says: Customers who have purchased the product are urged to not consume the fish and to return it to the place of purchase for a full refund.

Which states were affected?

The notice lists Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York.

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